How To Keep Your Loved Ones Connected During A Pandemic in Nebraska
Staying in touch with friends and family members can be a challenge even under the best of circumstances. Doing the same during a pandemic can be even more difficult. With the number of COVID-19 cases and resulting deaths continuing to rise, staying connected seems more daunting than ever for many people.
How Hands of Heartland is Keeping You Safe in Nebraska as an I/DD Service Provider
Luckily, the highly trained team members at Hands of Heartland are here to help keep you safe and connected during the pandemic and all the months and years that follow. Whether you use our services on campus or at home, you’ll enjoy the fellowship of friendly faces, compassionate caregivers, and talented professionals who are committed to helping you live your best life.
How COVID Impacted the I/DD Community
As is the case with other groups, COVID-19 has impacted the I/DD community in a variety of ways. Some facilities that serve the community closed temporarily. Many have reopened but may be offering limited services. Restrictions meant to slow or stop the spread of the virus have changed the way services are provided to people who need them.
While people with developmental disabilities aren’t necessarily at greater risk for contracting COVID-19, they have often been disproportionately affected by disruptions in the services they rely on. Home support, reliable employment, access to information–these are mere examples of things people with developmental disabilities may have experienced disruptions because of the pandemic. Disruptions in critical services can cause problems for families who no longer have the support they need. If a family relies on respite care, at least on occasion, they may find it difficult to take care of other types of business because no one is available to provide supports to their loved ones during their absence.
COVID Practices for Our Services and Support
Like other states, Nebraska issued exhaustive COVID-19 guidance documents that include guidelines for organizations that provide assistance to people with I/DD and their families. We’ve adopted many of those guidelines as part of our daily routine to protect the people we support and our team members from the pandemic. Our residential programs now require new participants to get tested and quarantine before they can share common spaces with others. The professionals who work for Hands of Heartland are required to wear masks when they provide in-home support. We constantly clean and sanitize our facilities by following recommended best practices.
How We Will Continue to Support Families
There’s no doubt about it–these are difficult times for people with I/DD and their families. You’re not in this alone, however, because Hands of Heartland will continue to stand by you and your loved ones while we provide all the support you need during the pandemic and well beyond its much-anticipated end. Whether you enroll in one of our day or residential service options or you need assistance at home, we’ll create a custom plan that will allow you to improve your quality of life and increase your independence. In other words, we’ll help you and your family live your best lives–and we can start with a consultative assessment as soon as you’re ready.
Get in Touch with an I/DD Service Provider You Can Trust in Nebraska
Are you ready to live your best life and stay better connected with loved ones? Contact Hands of Heartland, serving Iowa and Nebraska, now!