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).
Updates on Programs and Services due to COVID-19
Feb 01, 2021
Updated 8.19.2021
While many of our People Inc. services remained in full
operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to date, others were suspended or
significantly altered. Adjustment, as needed, will be made across the Western New
York and Finger Lakes regions, based on geographic case prevalence. The People
Inc. Emergency Preparedness Team is proactively engaged in monitoring any
potential changes in our service areas and will adjust agency policies accordingly.
The chart below will continue to be updated to reflect status changes of a program
or service.
As of Thursday, August 19, 2021, People Inc. adjusted our masking protocols, based on revised OPWDD guidance, throughout the agency effective immediately, as follows:
- ALL People Inc. employees, vendors and visitors are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
- During transportation, masks are still required for OPWDD programs, regardless of vaccine status.
Thank
you for your continued observation of the protocols that best keep the people
we support and our staff as safe as possible.
Note: As of Monday, February 15, 2021, many of the People Inc. Day, CAPP, YALT and Respite programs began reopening, but not all. Please see the appropriate area in the chart below.
Our primary goal is to maintain 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 continue to 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.
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.
Updated 8.19.2021
|
Program |
Type |
Details |
|
Residential Group Homes |
Visitation at Group Homes |
As of July 8, 2021, there are no restrictions for visitation. Please Note: ALL People Inc. employees, vendors and visitors are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status inside the group home at all times. |
|
Medical Appointments |
Family/Guardian may attend medical appointments
and procedures as necessary. However, attendance is also based on the specific health care facilities' COVID-19 guidance and policies. Most health care facilities and providers are still requiring the use of face masks, regardless of vaccination status and still have some capacity limitations in place. |
|
|
Person Served Return to Group Home |
As of July 8, 2021, there are no restrictions for return to the group home. |
|
|
Community Activities |
As of July 8, 2021, there are no restrictions on community activities. Please note that unvaccinated people are still required by NYS & OPWDD to wear a mask. |
|
|
Senior Living |
Common Areas |
Community rooms (with kitchen) are open. Tenants and
visitors who are unvaccinated are required to wear a mask in the common areas. |
|
Affordable Apartments (Mixed Income/Tax Credit Apartments) |
Common Areas |
Community rooms (with kitchen) are open. Tenants and
visitors who are unvaccinated are required to wear a mask in the common areas. |
|
Day Habilitation, Community PreVoc, CAPP, DHWW, YALT |
General Operations |
Operations primarily open to persons who live at home with their
families or reside in other agencies' residential programs due to continued
restrictions on capacity in buildings (social distancing) and transportation (50
% occupancy on vans/buses). |
|
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 |
Traditional respite services at Northtowns and Downing Respite Centers are operational. |
|
Site-Based Respite |
General Operations |
The following changes were made as of 2.9.2021, or after, for our respite sites: Open:
Not opening at this time:
|
|
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 reopened |
|
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 |
General operations resumed |
|
Ombudsman Services |
General Operations |
In-person support in line with operator’s visitor policies. |
|
Senior Companion Program |
General Operations |
Operating at clients’ homes and doing telephone wellness
calls. |