In an effort to support and inform elder and disabled Vermonters during
the COVID-19 outbreak, and to keep the staff and volunteers who serve them healthy
and safe, the NEK Council on Aging is implementing changes to their delivery of
services to minimize the potential spread of and exposure to the coronavirus.
Effective immediately, the NEKCOA is asking clients to call the helpline (800)
642-5119. Staff will no longer see
clients in person and will adjust to phone, mail, or email. In this time of improved ability to work
remotely, the NEKCOA will continue to provide support and guidance in helping
people meet their needs.
“We are committed to serving our elder friends and neighbors, but we must be
mindful of person-to-person contact. We need to adjust our service delivery to
protect those we serve and to protect our dedicated staff,” said Meg
Burmeister, Executive Director for the NEKCOA. “This virus, which is
particularly dangerous to our most vulnerable citizens, is forcing us to be
creative and rethink how to utilize technology (primarily), community volunteers,
and friends and family to support our elders. We will continue to serve our
clients but coordinate meetings over the phone and schedule personal meetings
with notification. When you visit our offices and find the doors locked, you
will know why. We are encouraging everyone to call our helpline first. Staff
will support clients via phone calls, email, conference calls, WebEx (or
digital conferencing), and regular mail.”
All wellness classes supported by the NEKCOA are suspended until
further notice. Monthly support groups
that include the Caregiver Support group held the last Monday of the month and
the Kinship Support group held every first Monday of the month are also
suspended. The Senior Companion program will default to phone visits only. All
information relating to suspended programs is available on the NEKCOA website www.nekcouncil.org
which is updated daily.
The 18 community meal site partners located throughout the NEK are also readjusting
service plans to move to drive-through, delivery, or pickup. Deliveries will be dropped off at the front door/porch and the driver will wait for the person to pickup. If the driver is unable to see the person receive the meal, a phone call will be made to confirm. “We encourage residents to contact the meal sites directly since
many are migrating to pick-up or delivery-only service,” said Burmeister. “A complete list of our community meal site
partners is on our website under the Community Dining Site and Home Delivered
Meals sections. If in doubt call our helpline.”
The NEKCOA Hardwick and Island Pond office locations, which use space provided through
a partnership with Northern Counties Health Care, are suspending weekly
appointments until May 1. The St. Johnsbury and Newport NEKCOA offices will
remain staffed and functioning but focus on phone intervention until further
notice.
The NEKCOA is committed to working with community partners which include,
transit providers, mental health agencies, and others to ensure that essential
services are delivered to vulnerable older Vermonters. Members of the community
are encouraged to call the helpline if they are experiencing difficulties or
know of someone who may be experiencing difficulties.
“We are in close contact with the state of Vermont Department of
Health, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and
the state of Vermont’s Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
(DAIL) to guide our decision-making and to help protect the public and our
staff,” said Burmeister. “We are hopeful that by working together, we will get
through this crisis safely. We look forward to getting back to normal
operations as soon as possible.”
Link to the CDC website for information on the COVID-19 outbreak for older and disabled residents.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
