Changes Log:  Suggestions, corrections or updates may be emailed here.

+ Updated New Haven Food Resources information

+ Hotline for Food insecure people who can't get out during this crisis under urgent needs

+ Direct link to food resources in Hamden

+ Face Mask making with and without sewing moved to Urgent Needs due to multiple Mayoral orders requiring the wearing of face mask in certain public situations.

+ Legal information resources page created by CT nonprofit legal assistance providers, includes link to help in multiple languages.

+ Information about cellphone company offers: source - CTLawHelp.org 

+ Clifford Beers Clinic Warm Line: New Haven residents may may call if they need help during the current public health crisis.

+ NH Schools announcement regarding change to the schedule of food distribution along with New Haven Public Schools page of resources and links.

+ added Clifford Beers tele-health phone number under Urgent Needs. They are accepting referrals focus on children\families in need of support. 

+ moved face mask and face shield making videos to the "How to" section.

+ new CDC guideline regarding use of face covering in public at all times

+ instructional video for making face mask, shield, sewing and non-sewing options.

+ Updated web page  to get most current information about Food Assistance Resources, includes form for agencies to submit or update their program info.

+ added link to Perrin Foundation - resources page for youth, community organizing, communications and more.  

+ How to Prevent "Zoombombing" the ruining of your ZOOM meeting.

+ New Haven and Regional Artist and Arts Resources. How to apply and how to donate.

+ multiple language links for people who are having a hard time understanding English language communications. 

+  Connecticut Food Systems Alliance - Statewide information about food \food system during the pandemic.

+ changed Regional organizations to State and Regional organizations and added.

+ Online crowd sourcing\brainstorming spreadsheet for ideas for help arts and community groups move their event(s) live online.

+ link to YouTube videos: How to participate in a ZOOM meeting.

+ link to YouTube Video: How to host a ZOOM meeting.

+ 14 local government sites for access to local information.

- added link to sign up for alerts, State of Connecticut.

+ mutual aid link: Arabic.

+ section for web-based information by kind neighbors.

+ link to the Spanish version of Clifford Beers Clinic Resources for families and children.

+ Mental Health and Addiction Services resource page: Continuum of Care.  

+ recommendation: sign up for calls, email of text alerts from your local government.

Remember to call any place you need to go before leaving home. 

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Urgent Needs

• Food, shelter, and other Needs statewide: https://www.211ct.org/ OR call 211
• Local Area Food: This listed is updated weekly. Note the tabs on the upper left allow you to see separate pages for soup kitchens, food pantries or client-specific needs programs. Agencies may also submit or update information about their progam through this page:   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSLwQq7WlM0po27dnv3lGliLH1C9Suz-WVQ5JTqSjblJleGCFCqw95QDLdiHWLDd5HnR3Ouimqf4Kop/pubhtml?urp=gmail_link# . For the same information in Spanish click on español at the top of the linked page.
• Food Hotline for food insecure people who can't get out during this crisis: 888-910-2960.
• Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233 with support in more than 200 languages. Free and confidential.
• Child & Family Support: Clifford Beers Clinic tele-health line is up is accepting families in need of support: 203-772-1270. Clifford Beers Clinic Warm line listed under New Haven.
• Mental Health and Addiction Services: http://www.continuumct.org/coronavirus
• Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255
• Legal Information about court access, work, benefits, housing, and more during the COVID-19 crisis: www.ctlawhelp.org/coronavirus. CTLawHelp.org was created by several nonprofit legal aid organizations whose shared mission is to improve the lives of Connecticut residents by providing free legal help to people with very low income. Help on this page is available in: Español  •  Polski  •  Português  •  中文资讯  •  العربية  •  русском языке  •  한국어 
  • Cellphone Company support: Source - CTLawHelp.org

    Assurance Wireless (Virgin Moblile’s version of Safelink) is giving all of their customers unlimited minutes and texts from now through 5/20 as well as 6 GB of data for free.

    TracFone/Straighttalk (Walmart's minute plan): Partnering with Safelink Wireless to enroll clients in free minutes, assistance with bill pay, waiving reactivation fees, setting clients up with data and texting packages. Can visit safelinkwireless.com/enrollment of contact 1800 723 3546 for details.

    Verizon: suspending late fees/re-connection fees, bill assistance, and getting extra minutes with proof of poverty, unemployment due to COVID. Best way is to apply online through the account. We could probably help clients do this!

    AT&T: free/reduced cost wifi/hotspots through your phone, unlimited data for all existing clients, and providing services at $10 per month for families with no income, low income, or financial strain due to COVID. Will extend the $10 per month plan after COVID crisis. Online is the most officiant way to apply due to the high number of callers (per info on website).

    Cricket: dial 611 to enroll in any COVID relief programs. Waiving re-connection fees, and all service fees on payments. Can use Bridge Pay to pay current bills in future months, over a longer period of time, and/or smaller payments per billing cycle. Includes minute plans. To call 611 you must call off of the Cricket issued phone, if someone else is calling for the client the number is 1 800 274 2538.
• Face mask without sewing: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=511791376164596&id=148380082505729
• Do it Yourself face mask:  https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/make-diy-face-masks/
• Instructional video for people with sewing experience:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnhePGv0gmQ&list=PLFmfBXEzoOPXznkrI9VzJUTqVxYYPNMkM&index=3

Please suggest other services in the comments below or via email and we will add them.

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As the situation with COVID-19 escalates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending face mask or face covering when you are in any public space. Following the instructional videos below you can make mask for yourself then share the videos with a friend. Remember to sterilize you mask before every use, including the first use. You can do this by placing the mask in boiling water for at least 10mins. Allow  the mask to dry completely, if possible in sunlight. Also do not forget to cover the rest of you face. The second video below shows how to make a basic face shield. Cloth masks do not protect you from COVID-19,  they reduce your likelihood of spreading COVID-19 if you have it. Wearing a mask is done in addition to, not in substitution of social distancing.

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Local Government COVID-19 Info and other Information: It is highly recommended that you sign up for alerts from your city or town (call, email or text) to get the latest local information if your local government is not providing this service get information from the State of Connecticut. 

• New Haven: https://covid19.newhavenct.gov/
  • Arts and Artist Resources: Department of Cultural affairs in partnership with The Arts Council of Greater New Haven launched a new haven creative sector relief fund for low income artists and small arts organizations. For eligibility and to apply:  https://lnkd.in/exNpybf. To donate: https://lnkd.in/eV6tysy
  • Food Resources during COVID-19: https://covid19.newhavenct.gov/pages/food. This site will be updated as additional food resources become available. Please check back regularly.
  • New Haven Public Schools: Resources and mails: https://www.nhps.net/coronavirus

  • Clifford Beers Clinic “warm line” is a place to call if you need information about the current public health crisis, if you need food or if you need to talk to someone. The line is open from 9am to 7pm Monday through Thursday, 9am to 6pm Fridays. (203)287-2460.

• Ansonia: https://www.cityofansonia.com/news/?FeedID=865
• Bethany: http://bethany-ct.com/
• Branford: https://www.branford-ct.gov/community/covid19-community-updates
• Cheshire: https://www.cheshirect.org/
• East Haven: https://www.townofeasthavenct.org/covid-19
• Guilford: http://www.ci.guilford.ct.us/coronavirus-information-updates/
• Hamden: http://hamden.com/695/Hamden-Coronavirus-Information-Center
  • Free Meal Sites: http://hamden.com/704/Free-Meal-Sites-in-Hamden
• Madison: https://www.madisonct.org/CivicAlerts
• Milford: https://www.ci.milford.ct.us/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
• North Branford: http://www.townofnorthbranfordct.com/
• North Haven: http://www.town.north-haven.ct.us/alertupdate.php
• Orange: https://www.orange-ct.gov/
• Oxford: https://www.oxford-ct.gov/home/urgent-alerts/town-of-oxford-covid-19-update-click-here-for-the-latest-information-town-hall-is
• Seymour: http://www.seymourct.org/ 
• Shelton: http://cityofshelton.org/
• West Haven https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/332/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19
• Woodbridge: https://www.woodbridgect.org/

Add other local government sites including city/town specific resources from our region in the comment section below or email them and we will update this section.  

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Facebook Mutual Aid Groups 

• New Haven Area Mutual Aid: https://www.facebook.com/groups/639466263512268
• Apoyo Mutuo New Haven (Spanish): https://www.facebook.com/groups/apoyo.mutuo.new.haven
• Mutual Aid in Arabic:  المساعدة المتبادلة في ووتربيري، بريدجبورت، نيو هافن

If you are aware of other mutual aid groups, especially those communicating in other languages, please list them in the comments below and we will update this section.

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Regional and State Organizations

• Agency on Aging of South Central CT: https://www.aoascc.org/news/coronavirus-where-to-go-for-information/ 
• Clifford Beers Clinic (for Families with Children):  https://www.cliffordbeers.org/covid-19-resources. En espanol: https://www.cliffordbeers.org/covid-19-en-espanol
• The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven: Response and Resources Page for COVID-19
• Connecticut Food Systems Alliance: Resources regarding the spread and containment of COVID-19 as it relates to food access and the food supply in CT: https://ctfoodsystemalliance.com/coronavirus-food-and-connecticut/?fbclid=IwAR2MGX8RhiIQE4gJY8nstZW35WUFqWriED1JveeafbRvfpUPZYsapdyz46U 
• Perrin Foundation: Resources for youth serving, community organizing, communications and more:   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DebcMaXLhU4_1K7DepaE2G3DyrRl2eWGAxJ8zbRDgFo/edit?usp=drivesdk
• United Way of Greater New Haven
  • Individual and Family needs: https://uwgnh.org/community-resources/
  • Volunteering: https://uwgnh.org/volunteer-needs/

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State Portals 

• Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus
• New York: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

Please suggest other statewide portals that should be listed in the comments section below.

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Your Kind Neighbors:

• New Haven Relief Resources: https://newhavenreliefresources.com/

• 10 Selden Board of Directors: online brainstorming document - anyone can submit their ideas to help arts and community groups move their events live online. Remember in brainstorming there are no bad ideas so put them all down!

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Useful "How to" links:

• Face Mask Making: Moved up to urgent needs because of the number of recent Mayoral Orders requiring the wearing of face mask in certain public settings.
• Basic face shield:  https://www.facebook.com/100003209936388/posts/2779089395541364/ 

• So many meetings are happening on ZOOM. Here is a simple 1 minute video explaining how to join a zoom meeting that you can use or if you are running a meeting you can send to other ahead of time to encourage them to participate: https://youtu.be/hIkCmbvAHQQ.
• If you need to run a ZOOM meeting here is a 15 min. video on how to do this: https://youtu.be/fMUxzrgZvZQ
• How to Prevent "Zoombombing" the ruining of your ZOOM meeting:  https://www.adl.org/blog/how-to-prevent-zoombombing?fbclid=IwAR3zuLssSexTPAbLp1TyRtaL-K7CdivExM98qkC9OiZZpiTWTFshyGKZoOc

Do you have a neighbor who speaks limited English or is Deaf? Thanks to Western New York State Occupational Safety and Health below is  information on the response to coronavirus (COVID-19), and what workers can do to protect themselves, their coworkers and families. Not everything will be relevant but there is good information here for people having a hard time understanding English.

shqip      አማርኛ       عَرَبِيّ      հայերէն/հայերեն        বাংলা       မြန်မာဘာသာ       ភាសាខ្មែរ      官话       chuuk     دری       فارسی       français     ελληνικά     kreyòl ayisyen     עברית       मानक हिन्दी        lus Hmoob        Ilokano       Italiano       日本語    ကညီကျိာ်       Ikinyarwanda      한국어/韓國語        Kajin M̧ajeļ       नेपाली       پښتو        Polski       português      ਪੰਜਾਬੀ        русский язык        Soomaali       español        Kiswahili        Wikang Filipino    ภาษาไทย        ትግርኛ         українська мова        اردو        việt        ייִדיש

Several dozen Law School students are working together to offer support to organizations in the greater New Haven community as they confront the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last few weeks, the Ludwig Center for Community & Economic Development (CED) and the student-run COVID Student Small Business Support Project have collaborated to develop educational materials and access to legal services for New Haven’s small business community.

https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/clinic-students-provide-resources-greater-new-haven-businesses-and-nonprofits

To help New Haven nonprofits efficiently recruit the volunteers they need during these difficult times, a team of New Haven residents recently launched a partnership platform, NewHavenHelpWithCovid.com. Since our launch three weeks ago, more than 450 volunteers with various skills from computer programming and translation to driving and sewing have signed up, and 15 organizations have successfully recruited for multiple positions from our platform, including Agency on Aging, New Haven Reads, Junta for Progressive Action, Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers, and others.

But we are so much more than just a platform for matching volunteer supply and demand.

First, our platform is intended for speeding up recruitment. When a volunteer expresses interest for a position posted on the platform, the nonprofit automatically receives an email with their volunteer profile, which includes key information such as contact information, skills set, link to resume, etc. This is a useful feature for nonprofits that don’t have their own application portal. But even for those that do, by posting a position on the platform, we can help expedite recruitment for that position through our weekly newsletters and social media that our volunteers subscribe to.

Second, when our volunteers sign up, they are expected to download a learning app from our training partner, Blank Slate Technologies, that is preloaded with flash cards on the latest City of New Haven volunteer safety guidelines. They use the app once a week to ensure that the guidelines stay in the front of their minds. And if a nonprofit has organization-specific guidelines or training, we are happy to break those down into flash cards and push them into the app that our volunteers are already using.  

Third, we are a team that stands ready to support New Haven nonprofits in whatever way is most helpful—we’ve helped organizations do targeted recruiting, post positions when they’ve been too overwhelmed, collect applications, etc.  

If you are interested in learning more about NewHavenHelpWithCovid.com, contact team lead, Tiffany Chan at tiffany.chan@yale.edu.

ACES is living its mission: to enhance and transform lives through education, innovation, and leadership during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though classes and services are being offered through online services, ACES staff has collectively been reaching out to provide support during the Covid-19 crisis through food drives to support those with food insecurities and donating PPE, and using their skills and technology to make masks and other protective equipment for hospital workers at Yale New Haven Hospital and Hartford Hospital. ACES efforts began in March and have continued through April with no sign of slowing down.

ACES nurses have been making and contributing masks since the beginning of March. To engage and coordinate their efforts, they created a Facebook group that currently has over 45 members, many of them are ACES employees. Many of these masks have been and continue to be donated to Yale New Haven Hospital. Additionally, our nursing staff, donated additional PPE to Yale New Haven Hospital including masks, glove, booties, gloves, gowns and goggles.

ACES Mill Academy and Thomas Edison Middle Schoolhave been using their technology, namely Replicators and 3D printers to create face shields and head straps. To date, Mill Academy has donated 26 head shields and head straps.  These face shields are being donated to Hartford Hospital to help protect medical professionals from the virus as they treat patients in the field. Donations are being made on an ongoing basis to Hartford Hospital.

ACES ACCESSconducted a food drive to help support shelters in the area as well as any ACES ACCESS program participants experiencing food insecurities.  Additional food drives are planned for the coming months.

Fellowship Place is excited to announce new online programming available to help our clients maintain recovery and connection during the COVID-19 crisis, including video demonstrations, art directives, health and wellness tips, and other activities.

Click here for Fellowship Place's new online programming and new program calendar.

Deadly Deliveries, View in graphics how hospitals are failing new moms and read from women as they share their near-death pregnancy experiences in this article by USA Today.

Read here: https://bit.ly/3b2fDAk

If you know of any resources available for pregnant women during CoVid19, feel free to share with us here: https://bit.ly/2JUtk8H. We will send share this with our community.

@BlackMamaMattersAlliance will be hosting a few webinars during #BMHW20.

Register for any of the webinars here: https://blackmamasmatter.org/events/

New Haven Healthy Start and Womxn of Color for Maternal & Child Health are pleased to host the first annual Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW). Founded and led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this annual campaign takes place every year from April 11-17 to deepen national conversations about black maternal health. 

If you know of any resources available for pregnant women during CoVid19, feel free to share with us here: https://bit.ly/2JUtk8H. We will send share this with our community.

There is a huge untapped resource for combating COVID-19, and it is growing just as fast as the pandemic. I encourage nonprofits to create opportunities for people to help the work you do without having to leave their home. To help promote the idea I have created a Website at www.covid19vip.com, which is free for anybody to use or emulate. The "VIP" stands for "Volunteer in Place." Why just shelter in place when you could also volunteer in place (VIP)? Be a COVID-19 VIP!

Safety Precautions for Food Distribution, Staff and Volunteers from the Department of Health of the City of New Haven

Safety%20Precautions%20for%20Food%20Distribution%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20Pandemic%20%283-25-2020%29%20%281%29.pdf

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Spanish: Guía de Precauciones para organización distribuyendo alimentos del Departamento de Salud, Alcaldia de New Haven

%5BSpanish%5D%20Safety%20Precautions%20for%20Food%20Distribution%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20Pandemic%20%283-25-2020%29.pdf

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Food Distribution Volunteer Safety Practices, Questions for Volunteers and Risk Characteristics from the Department of Health City of New Haven

Volunteer%20Safety%20and%20High%20Risk%20Characteristics%20%283-25-2020%29.pdf

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Spanish: Preguntas para Voluntarios, Características de Riesgo relacionadas a la distribución de alimentos del Departamento de Salud, Alcaldia de New Haven

%5BSpanish%5D%20Volunteer%20Safety%20and%20High%20Risk%20Characteristics%20%283-25-2020%29.pdf

Pills2Me (pills2me.com) is a brand new initiative that hopes to promote public health and prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Pills2Me’s mission is to offer same day delivery for prescription meds to patients who are elderly and vulnerable. We hope to help increase social distancing and to help people during these difficult times. We’re looking to hire volunteers from New Haven, CT and local cities in the area who are willing to help deliver meds and patients who would like free medication delivery. We just launched this past Monday and delivered to our first patient! Please sign up at our website: pills2me.com. We would love as much help as we can!

Attention: nonprofits of up to 100 employees are eligible for 0% loans of up to 75K for operating expenses under the Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program program. Applications are first come, first serve. Apply here: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/CT-Recovery-Bridge-Loan-Program

Please download and post this important information in English and Spanish from Yale New Haven Hospital for members of our community who are undocumented. This is a printable 11 by 17 inch poster. For example, I plan to print and post on Grand Avenue,  at local restaurants, pharmacies and the supermarket in the Fair Haven section of New Haven. Where can you circulate this information?

Favor de distribuir esta información MUY importante de parte del hospital Yale New Haven para residentes de nuestra comunidad que son indocumentados. Yo voy a imprimir copias y circular en los restaurantes, farmacia y supermercado de Grande Avenue in Fair Haven. Donde puede Ud. circular esta informacion?

13139-B_YNHHS_ICE_Public_Poster_11x17_PRINT.pdf

Pregnant and Worried Amid COVID-19?

March 20, 2020 (New Haven, CT): Calling the impacts of COVID-19 “an unprecedented crisis for our local nonprofit sector and the people it serves,” Community Foundation for Greater New Haven President Will Ginsberg announced today a series of extraordinary steps that The Foundation is taking to address the extraordinary challenges that the sector is facing.

The Community Foundation has been in communication with many local nonprofits over the last several weeks to understand the impacts that COVID-19 is having. “We have heard from organizations on the frontlines of this battle - both the healthcare and mental health institutions and the providers of basic needs such as food and shelter – that the demands on them are increasing dramatically,” Ginsberg said. “In addition, many organizations lack the infrastructure to support their staff working remotely. Many organizations have had to cancel important fundraising events in this environment, leading to major shortfalls in revenue, and many arts and culture institutions are essentially shut down.”

In partnership with United Way of Greater New Haven, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is establishing a Greater New Haven COVID-19 Community Fund. The organizations will work together in promoting the fund to donors and in decision-making as to grants from the fund.

“In times like these, we all need to work together,” Ginsberg said of the partnership with United Way. “Having one fund rather than two separate efforts by our two organizations is the best solution both for the nonprofit community and for donors in Greater New Haven.”

"We know it will take all of us doing our part to get through this pandemic,” stated Jennifer Heath, United Way of Greater New Haven President and CEO. “We are proud to partner with the Foundation to provide expertise and relationships that will facilitate a rapid, community-facing response to the Coronavirus outbreak as needs emerge."

The Community Foundation is launching the fund with contributions and commitments totaling more than $1 million. “With the generous support of our leading donors and with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven contributing approximately $500,000 of its own resources, we are grateful to have amassed such a significant amount in such a short time to assist local nonprofits,” Ginsberg added.

Members of the community wishing to donate to the Fund can do so at www.cfgnh.org/covid19fund.

In addition, The Foundation is also accelerating payments on approximately $1 Million in existing multiyear grants that under normal circumstances would not be paid until later in the year.

“Putting these grant monies in the hands of our local nonprofits by next Friday, March 27 will be important in their efforts to continue to provide services and meet their financial obligations” said Christina Ciociola, Senior Vice President for Grantmaking and Strategy at The Community Foundation.

The Foundation is also offering recipients of approximately $400,000 in current multiyear project and program grants the opportunity to repurpose them for general operating support so that the funds can be used to ameliorate the impacts of COVID-19, as well.

About The Community Foundation

Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is composed of hundreds of individually named funds and distributes millions of dollars in grants annually to build a stronger Greater New Haven region. The Foundation’s 20-town service area includes: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge. For more information about The Community Foundation, visit www.cfgnh.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.org/cfgnh or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cfgnh

Caregiving in a time of Coronavirus

A message from your Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

We are addressing this to all the family members and friends who provide care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and similar dementias. The care you provide is always vital to the quality of life and well-being of that person. The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic places extra burdens on you in providing that care. We want to provide you with information you can use to strengthen the effectiveness of your caregiving and assist with your own peace of mind during this time.

Some Basic Facts. The information below represents what we currently know about COVID-19. We present these facts starkly because this is a serious situation. Having good information should help you to protect yourself and your person with dementia.

Something New. Novel Coronavirus – or COVID-19– is a new strain of a virus that attacks the respiratory system, but other organs as well. Because it is a new strain, very few people can resist it, no matter how hardy they may be. Our bodies haven’t seen this strain before, so our immune systems haven’t developed ways to fight it off. Also, there is, as yet, no vaccine, so no medical measures can yet be taken to protect us against it.

Serious. It is difficult at this time to have a very accurate picture, but Covid-19 appears to be a serious disease threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include, in their range of possible futures for the illness, a prediction that more than half of the US population could be infected. The illness appears to have more serious outcomes than the flu, and death rate predictions are higher.

Risk Factors. COVID-19 requires the body’s immune system to mount a response to fight it off. So, anyone who has a weak immune system is at risk. Two factors are associated with weakened immune response: age and underlying chronic conditions. Those over 60, and especially those over 80 (even those who seem fit), are at higher risk for acquiring the illness. Also, individuals with chronic conditions like cancer, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are at increased risk for COVID-19.

Points of Entry. The illness enters the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth and then proceeds to the lungs. This is why we are advised to avoid touching our face. It may also enter through particles in the air. This is why social distancing and avoiding crowded situations are recommended.

Alzheimer’s and COVID-19. The person for whom you provide care is in a high-risk situation. Most persons living with Alzheimer’s are over the age of 65 (one risk factor), and most persons over 65 have at least one, and typically more than one, chronic illness (the other risk factor).

The CDC website is an excellent source of reliable information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Local Health Department Numbers can be found here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/Phone-Numbers_State-and-Local-Health-Departments.pdf

Guidance for Caregiving. We recognize that we are relatively early in this outbreak and that information and guidance is coming out in an ongoing way, so the guidance we are providing is guidance for now. It will certainly change, and we will provide updates as we learn of them. Follow these general rules to protect you, the person you care for, and your family.

General Rules – Please follow these rules even if you or your person has not been diagnosed with COVID-19 or neither of you is showing signs of it.

Self-Care. The best protection for you and those you care for is for you not to acquire the virus. Do your best to stay healthy. Take your medications as prescribed and follow your exercise and rest programs.

Handwashing and Sanitizing. If you leave the home, always wash your hands when you return and frequently during the course of the day. Cleanse hands for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice). Use hand sanitizer often. Use hand lotion to prevent drying and cracking of skin.

In Your Home. Clean surfaces in your home using the CDC’s recommended solution of 4 teaspoons bleach per quart (4 cups) of water. Clean door knobs, sink handles, refrigerator and oven doors, steering wheels, and other high-use surfaces daily. Change hand and kitchen towels daily. Open windows (if possible) to increase ventilation. Do not share dishes and utensils.

Manage Underlying Chronic Conditions. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and COPD tax the immune system. Adhere to management regimens to prevent the condition from worsening. Ask providers to call in refill orders and see if the pharmacy can deliver – or has a drive through pickup window. Do this for the medications that both you and your care-recipient take.

Monitoring. Watch yourself and your person for symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat). Take your temperature occasionally.

Social Distancing. Remove yourself and your person from close contact with groups of people. This is admittedly very difficult, so here are some thoughts:

· If you are working outside the home, see if it is possible to work at a distance through telecommuting means (phone and videocall contact, etc.)

· Examine patterns of social interactions.

o If you regularly attend worship services, see if your place of worship offers streamed services, or consider using the regular time of attendance as a time of home worship.

o If you take your person shopping or to malls, reconsider. If you must, perhaps use smaller shops at off-hours, and avoid very crowded places. Call friends, family, or neighbors to see if they are going to the store and can pick up items you might need

o Think about outings that present minimal risks: going to large parks, taking walks

· Limit going out to restaurants – or stop altogether, order take out and see if they can deliver curbside

· Here’s a really hard one: family visits.

o Keep them small – one or two people at a time

o Ask everyone who comes to follow the same safety rules you are (wash hands)

o No grandkid visits

More Home Engagement Opportunities. If you have relied on outings – like those listed above – as a way to keep your person pleasantly occupied during the day, then removing them from the schedule means you have to fill in those times with other engaging tasks and activities. So, plan for that. Consider the kinds of at-home activities that seem to please and engage your person. Are there ways to repeat such activities over the course of a day? Are there similar kinds of activities you might try (if the person enjoys helping with cooking, might s/he enjoy helping with the laundry)? Try new things out and add those to your toolbox that you see to be working well.

Pay Attention to Your Own Isolation. If following the “rules” means you are finding yourself more homebound, be sure to check to see how this is making you feel. Take some preventive steps before you begin to feel a sense of being isolated. Make arrangements with family, neighbors and friends to have regular contact. Phone and FaceTime calls can be helpful. If you do take walks with your person, invite another person along. If a friend or family member can come in to be with your person for brief periods of time, seek and accept that help, and take yourself for an outing – observing all the rules when you return (and also the advice about having help come in).

Help from Outside the Home. If you have someone coming into the home to help care for your person, then the general rules should apply to them as well. The person should adhere to hand washing rules, be urged to follow good self-care procedures, and monitor him/herself for symptoms of COVID-19.

Medical Care. You are very likely in a position where you have to manage your person’s routine and chronic health care as well as to respond to changes in condition or react in an emergency situation. It’s important to recognize that, with COVID-19, you need to have a plan for how to handle some medical situations that might arise in the course of caregiving.

If you have a primary care provider (a nurse practitioner, physician, of physician assistant), contact the office to see if they have put procedures in place for handling routine visits and visits related to any concerns you may have should you observe possible COVID-19 symptoms. If they don’t, ask for advice about

· handling routine and chronic care situations that you’d usually manage by bringing the person to the office.

· Dealing with possible COVID-19 symptoms

· Expected delays for elective procedures

· Responding to emergency situations – should you call the office first? Go directly to an Emergency Department?

If you feel you have an emergency, but are not sure, and cannot get through to your primary care provider, call your local Emergency Department. Most have a nurse or physician on duty who can offer advice about the need to come in immediately or wait at home.

If you think you or your person might be showing signs of COVID-19 and think you should be tested, it’s important to call your primary care provider (or the Emergency Department) first. They may be able to provide advice about where and if you need to be tested immediately or to wait. The clinic office or Emergency Department may not be where you can get tested

If you are a participant in a research study, call your research coordinator for instructions for follow up.

If Your Person is Living in an Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facility:

It is increasingly likely that visitors, even close family, will not be permitted to visit relatives in such facilities.

The staff will continue to provide care and comfort, but you will not be able to have in-person time with the person that may be important to you. If you are alone and feeling this as yet another loss, take action. Try to go out for a walk, call family and friends, listen to your favorite music, look at scrapbooks or read a good book. If you belong to a church or synagogue, call and ask to be put on a prayer list. Many religious staff are working from home and can respond to your messages. Have family and friends mail cards and letters to them.