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).
Phased Reopening Update - Phase B
Nov 05, 2020
Please refer to the Coronavirus section for the most up to date communications.
While many of our People Inc. services remained in full operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to date, others were suspended or significantly altered. A planned and gradual reopening of our programs is in progress, based on a variety of factors to support our primary goal – maintaining a safe and healthy environment for both 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 Monday, November 23).
- A special Coronavirus Phone Line has been established for families to call, 716.817.7445, and is checked and responded to directly.
- A new, afterhours Coronavirus hotline is now available for the people and families of people enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to express questions and concerns. The number is 716.529.6505.
- A special email address has been established as well, so that concerns can be addressed at COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.
- Our Advocacy Phone Line is also available for people we support to ask non-emergency questions by calling 716.322.7070.
New York State
New York State has released information regarding COVID-19 “cluster zones,” which are focus areas designated based on geographic case prevalence. The People Inc. Emergency Preparedness Team is proactively engaged in monitoring any potential changes in our service areas (from Yellow to Orange or to Red) and will adjust agency policies accordingly. For more information, this chart includes greater details.
PHASE B – Effective July 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. In-home visits can be arranged during inclement weather. Details are included in the most recent family letter (English and Spanish). *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 the 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/person supported as part of the process. |
|
|
Community Outings |
Resume community walks, going to parks, drive-thru meals, in-person dining, in-person retail and community for haircuts, in accordance with any precautions established by those venues. |
|
|
Senior Living |
Common Areas |
Services continue. Community rooms will reopen on Monday, August 3, with reduced room capacity and social distancing. Communal patios are open with socially distanced guidelines and tenants cleaning before/after each use. |
|
Mixed Income/Tax Credit Apartments |
Common Areas |
Services continue. Community rooms and communal patios open with safety precautions/limitations in place. |
|
Day Habilitation/ Community PreVoc |
General Operations |
Some Day Services opened on a limited-basis. Please contact the Day Program director for further details. Information is provided on the Reopening Phases - Day Programs - Contact List. Please note: An afterhours Coronavirus hotline is now available for the people, and families of people, enrolled in our Day Habilitation and Vocational Programs for questions at 716.529.6505. |
|
Employment Services |
General Operations |
Community-based Employment supports have continued, following employer/placement’s status. Limited Contract Manufacturing is operational at 181 Lincoln location. |
|
Free-standing Respite |
General Operations |
Northtown Respite Center on Townline will be temporarily closed, for internal use as of Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Traditional respite services at Downing Respite are suspended, see Temporary Respite Center. |
|
Temporary Respite Center |
General Operations |
Temporary Respite is available at the Downing Respite Center as a regional resource to care for people with disabilities who are COVID positive or recovering. |
|
Site-Based Respite |
General Operations |
Open |
|
In-Home Behavioral |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Community Habilitation/ In-Home Respite |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Recreation Respite |
General Operations |
Recreation Respite open as of October 2020 |
|
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. |
|
Headway of WNY |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. Virtual support groups held the first and third Tuesday each month. |
|
Deaf Access Services |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center |
General Operations |
Limited schedule of riding appointments will begin on Monday, August 3. |
|
Ombudsman Services |
General Operations |
Remote support, in line with operator’s visitor policies. |