People Inc.
A Coronavirus Phone Line is available for families to call at 716.817.7445. An afterhours Coronavirus hotline is available for families and people enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to share questions at 716.529.6505. Concerns may also be emailed to COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.
People Inc. also maintains an Emergency Closing Line for program participants, families and staff containing updated information about weather-related program closures. Call 716.817.5700 (Western New York) or 585.441.9393 (Greater Rochester Region) to find out if your program or location is closed.
Note:
On March 7, 2024, People Inc. updated the visitor policy for all residential facilities based on the recent Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) revised guidance on the "Management of Communicable Respiratory Viral Infections." Communicable Respiratory Viral Infections include: seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, measles, varicella zoster (chicken pox), and herpes zoster (shingles).
- If a person-served in a residence is under investigation (PUI) for or positive for COVID-19 or Influenza or Respiratory Viral Infection: Visitation is limited to outside (if weather permits)/Bedroom.
- If a person-Served is exposed to a person under investigation for or positive for COVID-19 or Influenza or Respiratory Viral Infection: Visitation is limited to outside (if weather permits)/Designated area in the home away from people in isolation.
- Face masks are required under the following circumstances:
- Face Masks are required if a visitor had close contact with someone with COVID-19, wear a well fitted face mask around others for 10-days from last close contact.
- Face Masks are required if a visitor completed a minimum 5-day isolation period as a result of a COVID-19 infection and are required to be worn on days 6-10.
- Face Masks are required if the home has a person receiving services under isolation for PUI or positive COVID-19 or the home is under isolation for a suspected or confirmed influenza.
More information is available at NYS OPWDD and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
June 18, 2020 Phased Reopening Update
Jun 18, 2020
While many of our People Inc. services remained in full operation throughout the COVID pandemic to date, others were suspended or significantly altered. A planned and gradual reopening of our programs is anticipated, based on a variety of factors to support our primary goal – maintaining a safe and healthy environment for the people we support and our employees. To be as transparent as possible, and allow for families and others to best plan, we are sharing the below information.
Our reopening is reflected in lettered
“phases” – Phase A, B, etc. – which may not, and are not meant to, correspond
directly with the externally-issued government “phases." Progression, pause or
reversal of our phases will be determined by our Emergency Management Team
based on continual monitoring and regulatory guidance. Updates may be made
rapidly as a result. Some phases may be brief in duration, but are important to
pace through in order to ensure the people we also deeply care about are as
safe as possible. We appreciate your support as we work together through this extremely challenging time.
We will continue to post updates to this information online, and as always, families are welcome to call group homes or programs for specific questions or participate on our family conference calls also posted on our website (next one on June 30). A special Coronavirus Phone Line has been established for families to call, 716.817.7445, and is checked every hour 24/7 and responded to directly. A special email address has been established as well, so that concerns can be addressed at COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.
PHASE A – Effective June 15, 2020
|
Program |
Type |
Details |
|
Residential Group Homes |
Visitation at Group Homes |
Prescheduled outdoor visits at group homes* between the hours of 9 a.m-9 p.m. with limit of 2 family visitors that have been pre-screened, and observe other safety precautions provided in advance. Details are included in the family letter. *No visits will be scheduled at a location if a quarantine is in place. |
|
Medical Appointments |
Family/Guardian can attend emergency medical appointments and
procedures in accordance with any precautions established by medical provider |
|
|
Person Served Return to Group Home |
Phased approach for return to group home begins with testing.
Additional safeguards outlined in operational policy which will be reviewed
in detail with family/individual as part of the process. |
|
|
Community Outings |
Resume community walks, going to parks, drive-thru meals and
community for haircuts. |
|
|
Senior Living |
Common Areas |
Services continue, Community rooms and communal patios presently
closed |
|
Tax Credit Apartments |
Common Areas |
Services continue, Community rooms and communal patios presently
closed |
|
Day Habilitation/ Community PreVoc |
General operations |
Day program buildings* are presently closed. Supports being provided
remotely. (*exception, some space at 181 Lincoln) |
|
Employment services |
General operations |
Community-based employment supports have continued, following
employer/placement’s status. Limited Contract Manufacturing operational at
181 Lincoln location. |
|
Free-standing Respite |
General Operations |
Traditional respite services presently closed. Sites redirected as a
regional resource to care for people with disbilitilies who are positive and are
recovering. |
|
Site-Based Respite |
General Operations |
Presently closed. |
|
In-Home Behavioral |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Community Habilitation |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Elmwood Health Center |
General Operations |
Continued operations, open for in-person and virtual visits |
|
Home Health Care |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Ombudsman services |
General Operations |
Remote support, in line with operator’s visitor policies |