March 26 2020-Update to Families and Community Partners regarding service closures
We wanted to keep in touch to let you know what is occurring at Community Living London during the pandemic.
As you are very well aware, the message federally, provincially and municipally continues to be for everyone to stay at home wherever and whenever possible, and to maintain social distancing at all times. With these 2 directions from the Province, we must continue with the closures of all non-essential supports previously announced. It would be remiss for us to bring people back into service and risk the spread of the virus amongst the people we support and our staff, not to mention the risk of community spread to your family as a result.
Unfortunately nobody knows how long this pandemic will continue, but all indicators are that it will be shorter if we all limit contact with others as much as possible. So we will all try our very best to limit contacts, maintain our social distancing, and keep our fingers crossed that we see an end to this terrible situation quickly.
We fully understand the pressure this is putting on families. We know this is causing hardship for so many people in our country, and beyond. We know it is a really frightening time. But unfortunately this is something totally out of our control, and we want to be responsible citizens and do everything we can to see an end to this pandemic.
If you have specific questions about locations or supports that have been cancelled at this time, we ask that you contact the agency and reception will direct your call to the appropriate management staff member (519-686-3000). You may need to leave a message, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please keep in mind it may take us a couple of days to return calls as we are managing the supports of those who live within our residential programs.
Sincerely
Michelle Palmer
Executive Director
Community Living London
March 16 2020-COVID-19: Message from CLL’s Executive Director Michelle Palmer
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to develop, we are enhancing our existing Pandemic Plan to minimize the risk of any people supported by Community Living London (CLL) and ensuring we have adequate staffing available for essential services.
CLL continues to take direction from Public Health Ontario and we will continue to work with staff and the health care system to meet the most up to date standards and requirements and create the best practices.
The health and wellbeing of people we support and our staff members are our top priority, and we are taking additional precautions in all our locations due to the population we support. At this time, we are closing, as of March 16, 2020, the following non-essential programs and services:
- All day programs (Adelaide Access, Conway, Ford Access, Horton Access, South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre and the Hub)
- All respite supports (Trafalgar, Lyman and Conway)
- All leisure and recreation services (leisure nights, Club at the Hub, all community leisure connections activities, Wednesday and Friday Bowling leagues, and Access Extra activities)
For essential services, including Residential Supports, Independent Living Supports and Supported Employment Services we have:
- Provided information to all staff on the virus, how to self-monitor and self-isolate if the need arises, and hand washing and other preventative measures.
- We ask that anyone experiencing any of the symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) refrain from visiting any of our locations, at minimum until you are 24 hours post symptom.
- For anyone who has returned to Canada since Friday March 13th, we ask you to wait for the 14 day period prior to visiting.
- We are limiting community activities for those people supported in residential services, to ensure avoidance of large groups to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
We understand this has an impact on many people and families – we apologize for this inconvenience but we must do what is best to limit exposure for our community. We will continue to monitor this ever changing situation and any updated information will be shared.
Thank you for your cooperation. Below are some resources from Public Health Ontario:
How to self-monitor:
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-self-monitor.pdf?la=en
How to self-Isolate:
How to self-isolate for caregivers:
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Valued People. Inclusive Community.
We are committed to supporting people who have a developmental disability live engaging and fulfilled lives. We believe in the inherent value of all people and that everyone has the right to fully participate in their community – to live, go to school, work, play and be active in retirement.
Over 200 volunteers and 250 member families work with Community Living London to support over 1000 people every year. Community Living London is accredited through FOCUS Accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to accountability.