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Black Mamas Matter Alliance had a National webinar on February 7, 2020 on Advancing Black Maternal Health, Rights and Justice.
View the webinar: https://bit.ly/34qNY9V
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/
If you know of any resources to 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.
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.
EMERGE Connecticut, Inc., is a New Haven based nonprofit Social Enterprise that operates a Transitional Employment Program for formerly incarcerated returning residents. We are a certified Home Improvement Contractor with the ability to hire our “crew members,” as paid employees while simultaneously providing enhanced program and supportive services for an individualized approach to reentry that seeks to end the pattern of recidivism. Our years of experience allow us to provide you with references listed below.
We take our commitment to our crew members seriously; when someone becomes part of our team we commit to them, and we commit to their success. In order to do this, our organization has a number of construction contracts, which we use to train our program participants and provide them with a source of income during their reentry process. Our earned revenue accounts for roughly half of our annual budget, which is supplemented by grants and donations that allow us to provide the program services that are designed to meet the deeper-rooted challenges faced by returning citizens in New Haven.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 has presented us with an unprecedented challenge. Many of our contracts, which are vital sources of income and allow us to pay our crew members have been canceled, and we are unable to fill many existing contracts due to social distancing guidelines. As a result, we are stuck between a rock and hard place, especially because many of our crew members depend on income for EMERGE as a source of income. What’s more is that since spring is the beginning of our season, many program participants have not been working enough over the winter months to be eligible for unemployment, and even if they were eligible to navigate the currently overloaded unemployment system, they would not be able to receive a fraction of what they would be making as part of the spring contracts they’ve been preparing for all winter.
One of the individuals most immediately hit by this new reality is Tim. Tim joined the EMERGE crew in October of 2019. He was able to work consistently on EMERGE’s crews through the end of the fall season, and took advantage of training, programming, talk therapy, and coaching throughout the winter months. In addition, Tim earned an OSHA certificate and a Commercial Driver’s License. Although he was not working consistently on construction sites, Tim showed a level of dedication to his personal development that earned him the lead role in EMERGE’s Tree Planting season with Urban Resources Initiative at the Yale School of Forestry, which was set to start on March 23rd. This was going to earn Tim a minimum of 24 hours per week, and put him in a leadership role. Tim, who was also struggling with an unstable living situation, was finally going to be able to afford a room in an apartment in Hamden and experience some stability for the first time since returning home.
At present we have 13 crew members, including Tim, who are on EMERGE’s payroll. Their safety, of course, is paramount. In order to discourage crew members from attempting to risk their health to replace their anticipated income, EMERGE is currently calling on our community members to help us support them and their families through this difficult time. By hiring an EMERGE crew, or contributing to EMERGE’s Great Give campaign, community members can act in support for our crew members.
Hire an EMERGE crew for your spring projects: Although we are halting all of our anticipated spring contracts, we are still able to provide landscaping services, spring cleanups, fence installations, and other outdoor projects requiring small crews. These projects allow us to enforce the standards of social distancing while still keeping a small number of crew members engaged.
Contribute to our Great Give campaign: From April 6th – May 6th, EMERGE will be raising money to support our crew members’ basic needs during the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s annual Great Give campaign. The Community Foundation will be providing match dollars based on number of donations, so no donation is too small. All of the funds raised through the Great Give this year will go directly to supporting the crew members on staff in order to keep them engaged until it is safe to return to regular work and programming. Please follow this link to donate: https://www.thegreatgive.org/organizations/emerge-connecticut
References
Colleen Murphy-Dunning, Executive Director of Urban Resources Initiative (customer of 10 years)
Henry Dynia, former Director of Design and Construction for Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven (customer of 9 years)
Mark Wilson, Project Manager at Livable City Initiative, City of New Haven
Reference from individual area residents available upon request
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!
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!
Safety Precautions for Food Distribution, Staff and Volunteers from the Department of Health of the City of New Haven
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Spanish: Guía de Precauciones para organización distribuyendo alimentos del Departamento de Salud, Alcaldia de New Haven
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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
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
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.
- Cellphone Company support: Source - CTLawHelp.org
- 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
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?
Pregnant and Worried Amid COVID-19?
Yale Medicine Ob/Gyn specialists answer common questions about pregnancy and COVID-19
Although pregnant women do not appear to be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 or suffering severe sickness—based on observations from China—many of those who are expecting understandably have questions and concerns...
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Foreclosures and EvictionsThis week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to implement an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single-family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days. This moratorium directs mortgage services to halt all new foreclosure actions and suspend all foreclosure actions currently in process, while also ceases all evictions of those persons living in FHA-insured single-family properties. Consistent with the HUD’s 60-day moratorium, Connecticut Superior Court Judge James Abrams has imposed an immediate stay of all foreclosure sales scheduled in either April or May to be rescheduled to Saturday, June 6th. Judge Abrams has also imposed a temporary ten-day stay of all pending evictions, the stay is scheduled to expire on March 27th. |
We are committed to helping our families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your health, wellness and quality of life is our top priority.
Amidst the uncertainty of COVID-19 (coronavirus) we want to provide you with the following information and resources to best help you and your family.
This page is constantly updated.- please check back often.
https://www.cliffordbeers.org/covid-19-resources
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.
Important Messages
From the NEW HAVEN Superintendent.
We are requesting that a parent or student complete a quick technology access survey.
This guide includes resources by grade from Pre-K to High School, by subject and for English learners. Get it here:
Why Nonprofits Must Be Included in a COVID-19 Relief and Economic Stimulus Package
Circulate to your advocates and supporters.
