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Nonotuck's Response to COVID-19

Dear Nonotuck Community,

 

In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 or Coronavirus and the declaration of a state of emergency in Massachusetts we wish to provide you with the most updated information as we work as a community to limit the spread of the virus, as well as, keep you apprised of Nonotuck’s plan to continue our supports in a safe and responsible manner.

 

The Department of Public Health has provided the following information on the virus.

The COVID-19 or Coronavirus is a new respiratory disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. Symptoms of this infection may appear between 2-14 days after exposure and can include:

• Fever

• Coughing

• Shortness of breath

• In severe cases, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

 

How does Coronavirus spread?

Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses and are generally spread through respiratory secretions (such as droplets from cough and sneezes) of an infected person to another person. Information is rapidly developing, and we ask that you keep yourself informed by visiting CDC.gov or Mass.gov/2019Coronavirus.

 

Nonotuck has taken an abundance of caution by instituting a measure now commonly known as “social distancing” or "physical distancing" or limiting contact between people in an effort to reduce exposure and transmission of the virus. As of March 16, 2020, we have moved to telehealth home visits including phone calls and video conferencing– these visits will be more frequent and will include a screening of the health and risk factors for the families we support. We also recommend that you utilize “physical distancing” and avoiding large crowded spaces when in the community whenever possible.

 

Although our measures reflect physical distancing practices, we have increased our efforts to stay socially connected within the entire Nonotuck community. We will be connecting more often via telephone calls, video-chats, virtual meetings, health and wellness pop-ups, and other virtual methods of communication. Please reach out to us at any time to stay connected with any of these methods.

 

It is our goal to continue to educate and support the Nonotuck community around the virus and precautionary measures. Together we can slow the spread of this virus.

 

Sincerely,

Nonotuck’s Executive Team & Health and Safety Committee

 

Read Nonotuck's full response plan here

“(Through shared living) people with a disability experience a real transformation and discover confidence in themselves; they discover their capacity to make choices, and also find a certain liberty and above all their dignity as human beings.”

—Jean Vanier

Caregiving with Love:
Guide for Shared Living Providers

Learn how Nonotuck developed a love-based ideology of care. We started our shared living program as an alternative to group homes for people with disabilities. Instead, Shared Living creates genuine life transformation for people with disabilities, as well as families and communities. The true power of caregiving is found through hospitality, authenticity, and love.

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