2019-coronavirus (1)

Knowing Your Risk During COVID-19

by COVID-19

What to know before going out

  • The more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher risk of COVID-19 spread.
  • Keep these items with you when venturing out;
    • Cloth face covering
    • Tissues
    • Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Some people have the virus and don’t have any symptoms

Things to think about before going out

  • How many people will you interact with?
    • Interacting with more people raises your risk
    • Being in a group with people who aren’t social distancing or wearing cloth face coverings increase your risk.
  • Can you keep 6 feet of space between you and others?
    • The closer you are to other people who may be infected, the greater our risk of getting sick.
  • Will you be indoors or outdoors?
    • Indoor spaces have less ventilation and might be harder to keep people apart.
  • What’s the length of time that you will be interacting with people?
    • Spending more time with people who may be infected increases your risk of becoming infected.
    • Spending more time with people increases their risk of becoming infected if there is any chance that you may already be infect.

Consider before you go

  • Is COVID-19 spreading in my community?
  • What are the local orders in my community?
  • Will my activity put me in close contact with others?
  • Am I at risk for severe illness?
  • Do I live with someone who is at risk for severe illness?
  • Do I practice every day preventative actions?
  • Will I share any items, equipment or tools with other people?
  • Will I need to take public transportation to get to the activity?
  • Does my activity require travel to another community?
  • If I get sick with COVID-19, will I have to miss work?
  • Do I know what to do if I get sick?
2019-coronavirus (1)

COVID-19 Updates

by COVID-19

From CEO Bentley Smith:

Great job to everyone following the recommended infection control protocols by the Centers for Disease Control and local guidance published by the Colorado Department of Public Environment (CDPHE).  We have had some close calls, but no major known exposures or outbreaks. 

Looking forward to the upcoming summer season, and the lowering of restrictions in our communities, it is imperative that we continue to remain vigilant.  This means following the infection control standards, making informed decisions about activities you may be considering, and discussing your activities with your Support, Inc. team when needed.  The individuals that we serve are considered highly vulnerable to COVID-19, and therefore we all must diligently follow the guidance and limit everyone’s exposure to stop the spread.

You can visit Support, Inc.’s website for the latest news and information, or the CDPHE website for more COVID-19 related information.  Links are below:

Link to Support, Inc. Newsfeed

Link to CDPHE’s COVID-19 Website

We also have our updated screening questions to be used before entering client homes. We will use this same screening tool for visitors entering our offices. For any questions on the screening assessment, please contact Laura at Laura.Viers@supportinc.com

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Quarantine Fatigue: Tips to Battle the Blues

by COVID-19

Quarantine fatigue has been described as the restlessness we feel from staying home so often. We’re itching to get out and for life to return to normal.

While we continue to practice social distancing, please remember to go easy on yourself. Rather than denying how we feel, often times it is best to acknowledge the things outside of our control so we can focus on the things we are able to control. It’s okay to feel sad, tired, bored and depressed. Allow yourself some time to identify these feelings before turning to coping mechanisms.

This is your weekly reminder to allow yourself some grace. It’s totally normal to not feel normal right now, and the least we can do is be kind to ourselves and one another.

Should you need some ideas of things to do at home, please refer to the list below. We continue to support our individuals in services and will be here if you need anything.

  1. Garden
  2. Play board games/sports/video games
  3. Have a scavenger hunt
  4. Learn to cook a new recipe
  5. Schedule virtual hangouts with friends and family
  6. Watch backyard movies
  7. Camp in your living room
  8. Listen to a new podcast
  9. Tour a museum or zoo online
  10. Follow up on those New Years Resolutions

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DSP Home Visits

by COVID-19

We continue to exercise caution when deploying DSPs to community settings, and by this point, many sessions are being enjoyed in client homes.

The 4 goals we have for these sessions (aside from person-specific goals) include the following:
1. Mitigating Boredom
2. Getting Enough Physical Activity
3. Maintaining Social Connections
4. Meeting Physical/Tangible Needs

With this, we have our guidelines for DSP visits. For further questions, please contact Meghan at Meghan.steineker@supportinc.com

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Plain Language on COVID-19

by COVID-19

With the recent barrage of information, this link remains important. Please click below for Plain Language information regarding COVID-19, available in 11 languages. This critical information explains how COVID-19 is contracted and how to stay healthy.

We applaud the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center for putting this resource together. Should you need further assistance talking with a loved one regarding COVID-19, please reach out to your team for additional support.

Plain Language Information on COVID-19 (in 11 languages)
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COVID-19 At Home Activities

by COVID-19

Our employees at Support, Inc. have funneled a list of activities to engage in while we spend more time at home. We will update this list as more suggestions become available. For now, please review this information and feel free to share your ideas!

Arts and crafts:

Build things

Origami

Paint on a canvas

Paint Rocks

Sidewalk chalk art

Coloring

Play-doh

Make jewelry

Sewing and crocheting

Make t-shirts

Coloring

Dye Easter Eggs

Check Pinterest for more activities

Games:

Play board games and card games

Puzzles

Puzzle speed contests: each have your own puzzle and race to see who can finish first

Crossword Puzzles

Word Searches

Pictionary

Charades

Bingo

Game night

Physical Activity:

Dance parties

Exercise online

Go for a hike/walk

Bike rides

Do yard work

Wash the car

Nature walks near your house to identify native flowers, birds or animal tracks

Media:

Read a new book—physical copy or audiobook

Watch Comedies and uplifting movies

Start a new tv series

Video games

Virtual museum tour online

National park tours online

Increase Independent Living Skills

Cook meals

Try online grocery shopping

Youtube cooking classes

Pack a picnic

Research careers

Use technology to maintain appointments such as medical appointments, therapies, etc.

Learn to use Zoom to maintain contact with loved ones

Rearrange/organize bedroom

Learn a new skill, such as sign language

Misc:

Spa day (paint nails, facials, try new hair dos)

Scavenger Hunts

Themed Days—Example: Dinosaur Day. Wear Dinosaur clothing, Watch Dinosaur Movie, Research Dinosaurs, read about dinosaurs. Dinosaur shaped food.

Create a play/talent show

Blind taste test

Story time: draw pictures related to story or dress up as characters in the story

2019-coronavirus (1)

COVID-19 Agency Updates

by COVID-19

March 26, 2020

To All Support, Inc. Staff, Families, and Providers:

By now you have heard that the entire state is now under a “stay at home” order as an additional measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 across the state.  This means that individuals are required to stay home, except when completing essential tasks.  To clarify, our operations are considered essential tasks and services, and we will continue to operate under the modified arrangement that we have for the last several weeks.  To summarize, this has included:

  • Most administrative staff are working remotely and limiting contact with others
  • Day and community oriented services being provided in significantly smaller groups or one on one both in the home and safely in the community, targeted towards individuals who need this critical service to ensure stability in the home and to support families and/or providers
  • Conducting operations via remote technology when possible, such as home visits, clinical sessions, administrative meetings, and check ins

We will continue these practices for the foreseeable future and constantly seek creativity in service delivery.  As always throughout this time, our aim is to operate fully to support everyone around the organization as best we can given the circumstances, using creative methods developed by our staff and precautionary practices outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Should you have difficulty navigating the community under this order when working with our individuals in care, or traveling to and from locations, a letter has been circulated that you can use to show that you are providing essential services.  If you have not received this via email, please contact Idania Ochoa, Human Resources Manager at idania.ochoa@supportinc.com or 303.340.0322 to get a copy.

I have been impressed with everyone’s commitment despite the challenges we all face.  I cannot express the gratitude I have for each of you during this time of need to support each other and the individuals in our care.

Regards,

Bentley Smith

Chief Executive Officer

Important Links:

Link to State of Colorado Stay at Home Order

Link to COVID-19 Information by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Link to the Support, Inc. Website News Feed, Including our Facebook Page