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Coronavirus (COVID-19): The Latest News from Mainstay

[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

Please check back regularly. We will stay in touch and provide updates on this quick moving story, with a focus on what the people we support and our staff need to know.

[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””][three_fifth last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Update: May 15, 2020

ANCOR Launches #ForgottenFaces Campaign

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen tremendous losses in our communities. From the loss of loved ones, essential supports and livelihoods, many are hurting. The field of disability supports is among the hardest hit.

While some have received funding and access to PPE, many providers have been barely hanging on, and passed over with each agreement reached on Capitol Hill and in the halls of our federal agencies. We cannot let these #ForgottenFaces continue to go unrecognized.

As you may have seen in our announcements last week, to ensure these #ForgottenFaces do not remain forgotten, ANCOR is taking multiple steps, including continuing to collect data, lobbying members of Congress, and recognizing and sharing stories of the direct support professionals who are on the frontlines of this crisis.

Read on to see which action steps you can take.

[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Update: March 17, 2020

Dear Family Member,

I am writing to let you know how Mainstay Life Services is responding to the potential spread of COVID-19 or the Coronavirus, and to inform you of our protocols to protect the people we support. 

What is Mainstay doing to address the potential spread of the Coronavirus?

  • Mainstay will follow guidelines published by the federal government’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) that will be tailored to meet the needs of the people we support and our employees.
  • We have purchased additional supplies including hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, surgical masks, gloves and eye guards.
  • We have developed a plan for each of our programs with the managers and coordinators on how we handle illness and any staffing interruptions.
  • We are sharing information and communicating updates and education on a regular basis with our employees and other partners to keep them as up-to-date as possible.
  • We are ensuring proper handwashing and use of hand sanitizer for people entering our buildings.

How does the Coronavirus spread? 

Much remains unknown about how this new strain of Coronavirus spreads, and current knowledge is based on what is known about other Coronaviruses with person-to-person spread, such as SARS and MERS. Transmission is thought to occur via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Below are resources from the CDC website providing facts about COVID-19 and the prevention of the spreading of germs. The information has been shared with our staff to post in facilities and to share with individuals supported and their families.

Please feel free to call me at 412.344.3640 or email me at ksonafelt@mainstaylifeservices.org with any questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Kim Sonafelt

CEO[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””][/three_fifth][two_fifth last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” class=”” id=””]Helpful Information[/title][fusion_text]The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsummary.html

CDC Handwashing Demonstration

PA Department of Health:

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

 

COVID-19 Information by and for People with Disabilities:

https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Plain-Language-Information-on-Coronavirus.pdf[/fusion_text][/two_fifth][three_fifth last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Update: March 16, 2020

We are facing a complex and rapidly changing situation with COVID-19, both in our local community and around the world. There are almost constant developments, and we are closely monitoring the ever-changing situation and making decisions based on the best available information.

Thank you all for your commitment to Mainstay Life Services and the people we support, especially in complex times like these. The last couple of weeks have been very challenging for families and communities around the world, and especially for those who love and support people with special needs.

Mainstay is completely committed to maintaining a safe, therapeutic and healthy environment for the individuals in our care. We know that an effective tool is to practice social distancing whenever possible. We know that for our dedicated employees who work with people every day, social distancing is not possible. Our staff is continuing to provide support services while ensuring that safe practices for preventing the spread are in place.

In order to protect the health of the Mainstay family and most importantly our employees and people we support, our administrative staff is moving to a remote telecommuting work environment. We will have a limited number of employees at the administrative office each day in order to support both essential support professionals and the people we support.

We encourage you to stay informed and get your information from credible sources, which you will find linked to the right-hand side of this page.

 

Sincerely,

Kim Sonafelt

Chief Executive Officer[/fusion_text][/three_fifth][/fullwidth]