President / CEO
LeadingAge Indiana
(317) 733-2380 ext. 2003
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Coronavirus Resource Center for Members
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Many of you have had a very busy and challenging week and are preparing for the unknown that lies ahead. Let me assure you that LeadingAge Indiana is here for you to serve in every way possible. Most importantly, you can trust us to pass along the latest information as it becomes available. We continue to
collect i
nformation on the COVID-19 outbreak and we've established an online coronavirus resource center for members to access breaking information. Together we will support one another. Share your best practices and experiences with us and we'll pass the information along to the membership. We call on our Associate Members to share their expertise as well. The LeadingAge Indiana board and staff continue to meet as we closely monitor the situation.
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Governor Holcomb Announces New Steps to Protect Public from COVID-19 (3/12/20):
Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced additional steps the state will take to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Indiana. As of noon today, the state has 12 Hoosiers who have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19.
“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” said Gov. Holcomb. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”
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Here are the actions Gov. Holcomb is initiating today.
- Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. This includes any event or gathering of people who are in one room or a single space at the same time, such as cafeterias, churches, stadiums, meeting and conference rooms, auditoriums and the like. This guidance applies to professional, social, community and similar other gatherings. Detailed guidance will be posted on the Indiana State Department of Health website by the end of the day.
- Effective immediately, school corporations will be provided with a 20-day waiver of the required 180 instructional days for use as needed for the remainder of the academic year. The waived days do not need to be used consecutively and can be leveraged as needed.If a school corporation has evidence of community spread or a confirmed positive test for coronavirus, officials should consult with the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana State Department of Health for additional steps. Schools should plan now for broader closures, including eLearning and remote classroom options.
- The Department of Education will release additional guidance detailing the process for submitting waiver requests as early as Friday.
- Schools should follow the guidelines for non-essential gatherings as they make decisions about non-essential extra-curricular or co-curricular activities.
- Child care and adult day care facilities should institute social distancing and minimize large gatherings. Temporary suspension of operations should be done in consultation with the Family and Social Services and ISDH in the instance of documented community spread.
- Nursing facilities and hospitals should restrict and screen visitors. Any individual who is allowed to visit is restricted to the patient’s room. Visitors are not allowed if they present with any of this criteria:Display signs or symptoms of illness, especially respiratory illness
- Have traveled internationally or been in contact with someone with a respiratory illness in the past 14 days
- Reside in a community with a known COVID-19 case
- Those who are less than 18 years of age
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- The Indiana Department of Correction has suspended visitation at all facilities as a precaution for the health and safety of IDOC staff and offenders.
- Individuals over 60 years of age or those with a known underlying health issue such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease should limit their public exposure. Whenever possible, friends and family should arrange to provide food and other essential items.
- Those who run senior centers and congregate meal services should consider suspending congregate meals services and arrange for home delivery
- Encourage businesses to utilize telework policies, if available
Governor Holcomb is also issuing guidance for state employee operations. The state will suspend all non-essential out-of-state and international travel beginning today and for the next 45 days. The state is also providing employees with guidance about the use of leave and remote work options for limited durations while ensuring the delivery of essential state services. The guidance is attached.
“I fully expect there will be additional actions warranted in the coming days,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Just as we have since the beginning of the year, we are working with partners at all levels to secure all necessary resources for any escalation of this virus.”
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus:
- Stay home unless you need to seek medical care.
- Avoid public areas and public transportation
- Stay away from others as much as possible, especially people who are the most at risk such as older adults with multiple medical problems and those with a weakened immune system
- Don’t shake hands
- Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening such as difficulty breathing and call your doctor or healthcare facility before you seek care.
More information may be found below:
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LeadingAge Urges Greater HUD Role in Coronavirus
On March 6, LeadingAge wrote to the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, urging increased HUD attention to senior affordable housing communities faced with the coronavirus outbreak.
LeadingAge affordable housing members and their residents are in need of HUD-specific guidance related to emergency equipment, supplies, and staffing, as well as guidance on how quarantines would work within an affordable community, visitor policies for health services staff and for non-health service staff, and for more communication with providers and residents.
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“Given that there are thousands of predominantly older adult HUD-assisted communities, that their residents have more chronic conditions than their peers without housing assistance, and that the coronavirus disproportionately impacts older adults, we urge the White House Coronavirus Task Force to do more and to do more quickly to help providers and residents of predominantly older adult HUD-assisted communities through this outbreak,” the
letter
says.
“Thus far, HUD’s guidance has been inadequate. Rapidly expanding the types of information and resources provided to predominantly older adult HUD-assisted communities is a real opportunity for the White House Coronavirus Task Force to meaningfully help an at-risk population through this outbreak,” the letter says.
LeadingAge has sent HUD questions about the coronavirus and affordable housing providers and will get HUD’s responses to our members as soon as we hear back from HUD.
Members are urged to visit our coronavirus
information page
, which is being updated frequently.
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