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).
Temporary Suspension of Some Programs and Services
Nov 13, 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. Now, the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions are experiencing a serious and significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases, some of the highest in the 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.
A planned suspension of some 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. We appreciate your support as we work together through this extremely challenging time.
As of Monday, November 16, 2020, we suspended programming at several site-based Day and Respite programs. Thursday, November 19, 2020 was the last day of attendance at our certified Day Programs for all attendees. At this time, our day programs will continue to offer people virtual programming from their family homes. As of Wednesday, December 2, 2020, operations are suspended for the remaining day services and respite sites (please see related areas below).
As of 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020, we closed several of our site-based and recreation Respite programs, with the others being suspended as of Wednesday, December 2 (please see related areas below).
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 Thursday, January 28, 2021). Information for families is included in the most recent family letter (English and Spanish).
- A special Coronavirus Phone Line has been established for families to call, 716.817.7445, and is checked and responded to directly.
- An 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.
Effective
November 13, 2020 (Updated 11.20.2020)
|
Program |
Type |
Details |
|
Residential Group Homes |
Visitation at Group Homes |
A No Visitors Policy will be in effect as of Friday, November 20. Families can arrange window and virtual visits. |
|
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 |
Prior to returning to the residential site,
people we support will need to have a negative COVID-19 test result within four
days of returning. Additional safeguards outlined in operational policy, will be reviewed
in detail with family/person supported as part of the process. |
|
|
Community Outings |
All community outings for People Inc. Day, Respite and certified Residential Programs were suspended as of Monday, November 16, 2020, until further notice. |
|
|
Senior Living |
Common Areas |
Supports continue. Community rooms will be closed until further notice. Essential visiting only. |
|
Affordable Apartments (Mixed Income/Tax Credit Apartments) |
Common Areas |
Supports continue. Community rooms will be closed until further notice. Essential visiting only. |
|
Day Habilitation, Community PreVoc, CAPP, DHWW, YALT |
General Operations |
Operations at these programs are suspended as of Wednesday, December 2. Information is provided on the Day and Employment Classification Cluster Chart.* *At this time, our day programs will continue to offer people virtual programming from their family homes. 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. Information is provided on the Day and Employment Classification Cluster Chart. |
|
Free-standing Respite |
General Operations | Traditional respite services at Northtowns and Downing Respite Centers are suspended. Temporary Respite is available at the Northtowns and Downing Respite Centers |
|
Temporary Respite Center |
General Operations |
Temporary Respite is available at the Northtowns and Downing Respite Centers |
|
Site-Based Respite |
General Operations | The following respite sites will be closed as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, November 20, 2020:
The following programs are suspended effective Wednesday, December 2, 2020:
|
|
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 |
Program will close as of 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020, until further notice. |
|
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 for winter. Taking calls about program
info, tours and volunteer orientations that will be scheduled in the spring. |
|
Ombudsman Services |
General Operations |
Remote support, in line with operator’s visitor policies. |
Senior Companion Program | General Operations | Operating at clients’ homes and doing telephone wellness
calls. |