Due to the increased risk of serious complications from COVID-19 for individuals with disabilities, the Center of Family Love in Okarche is taking extreme precautionary measures to protect its 130 intellectually and physically disabled residents from coming in contact with potential carriers of COVID-19.
As of Monday, March 16, the nonprofit organization closed its doors to all visitors, including family, volunteers and supporters, until further notice.
Only medically essential personnel are allowed on residential and vocational campuses for the duration of the COVID-19 threat.
The center has defined medically essential personnel as employees, medication delivery personnel, designated healthcare providers, designated mental healthcare providers, home health personnel and hospice personnel.
The organization has also implemented additional procedures to protect the individuals it serves from the COVID-19 threat.
Additional protective measures include: indefinitely suspended off-campus resident trips along with temperature screenings, footwear sanitization, and mandatory reporting of symptoms and exposure for all medically essential personnel entering on-campus facilities.
“At this time, we are most grateful for our amazing staff here at CFL,” said CFL President and CEO, Debbie Espinosa. “The members of our staff are truly the backbone of our organization. Without their love and protection for our residents, we could never begin to provide the safe environment we have at this critical and unprecedented time for our organization and nation. Having such a qualified and dedicated frontline team ensures the greatest protection for our most vulnerable residents.”
As long as COVID-19 remains an active concern, CFL has pledged to continue following the guidance of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and local government officials in order to evaluate risk factors and make plans to execute recommended protective procedures.
For more information on CFL’s COVID-19 response, visit www.centeroffamilylove.org/covid-19.
