COVID-19 Resources

“
Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.
”
— Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

SCIL’s Announcements

SCIL is proud to announce our newest program made possible by a United Way of Greater Fall River - Impact Grant. Living and Empowering Active Participation (LEAP) is social recreation for individuals with disabilities that are 22 years and older.

LEAP’s goals are to increase social interaction and recreation activities, teach new life skills, and provide new experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Due to Covid-19, we are currently conducting all activities and events virtually using Zoom. In the future when it is safe to do so we will resume in-person activities and events.

Below is a link for a survey that hopefully you can take the time to fill out and provide us with your valued opinion for our social recreation program: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y39VF6V

Dear Consumers, Supporters and Community Members,

Due to precautionary measures of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and social distancing, Southeast Center for Independent Living (SCIL) management team and staff have been working diligently on procedures to keep all in our community healthy.

As the situation continues to evolve, SCIL has been receiving recommendations by the CDC, Department of Public Health, Governor Baker and the Executive Office of Human Services on implementing preventative measures to protect all of our consumers and staff.

SCIL staff have been asked to follow the social distancing procedure:

• All in person visits to our offices, nursing homes or home visits have been suspended
until further notice.

• No face to face meetings with any consumers or attending any outside meetings of any
sort.

As of Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 12:00 noon, we will officially close our office and all staff are working remotely from home.

We are committed to continuing to provide our core services and supports to our consumers during this time, all communication will be done either through phone calls and/or video conferencing by consumer preference.

We are also in the process of finalizing our group classes for Driver’s Education Learners Permit and Budget Your Bucks through video conferencing and will notify all consumers currently enrolled to start.

If you have a request for services to be made, you can call the office and leave a brief message at (508) 679-9210 and our Information & Referral department staff will contact you for more information on the referral.

SCIL Management Team and staff thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to practice social distancing and take precautionary measures to minimize any potential risk to our community.

Sincerely,
Lisa M. Pitta, MSW, LCSW
Executive Director

COVID-19 Testing

Information provided by ACL.GOV

On January 14, the White House announced a new initiative to help ensure Americans have COVID-19 tests on hand in case they are needed. The website to order at-home testing kits -- at no cost -- is now live and accepting orders. People who do not have Internet access or who need additional assistance with ordering can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to place their orders. 

The Eldercare Locator and the Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) also can assist older adults and people with disabilities with placing orders if they need additional help, connect people to accessible instructions, and help with administering the tests. Both phone lines are staffed Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern). 

  • Older adults can call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 Monday-Friday or visit the website to chat live or browse resources.

  • People with disabilities can contact DIAL by calling 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org. The DIAL information specialists are trained to work with people of various communications abilities, including spending as much time as needed to understand callers. Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can reach DIAL using the 711/Video Relay Service (VRS). To use this free service, simply dial 711 to be connected via text with a communications assistant. (For people who do not communicate through speech, sign language or VRS, email is the best option to communicate with DIAL.)

Two important notes:

  • There are enough kits to fill orders for every residential address in the country.

Orders will begin shipping at the end of January, for both people who placed their orders via the online form in the days when only the online form was available and those who began ordering when the phone lines became available.

Emotional Support & Domestic Violence Assistance

Baycove for youth and adults in crisis- please call 1-800-981-4357 for crisis evaluation.  They are trying to keep people out of the emergency room if they can and assist.

The Women's Center  24 hour Hotline for Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence # 508-999-6636.

Samaritans Suicide and Emotional Support Hotline - free to anyone in need of a caring, compassionate confidential listener - 866-508-4357

Safe Place Support Group for Survivors of Suicide Loss - First and third Wednesdays of the month - done by Zoom with trained facilitators - please email samaritansfrnb@gmail.com

Violence Recovery Program - hotline from 9-5 (M-F), 617-927-6250, doing phone/video counseling and safety planning: https://fenwayhealth.org/care/behavioral-health/violence-recovery/

Contact Samaritans 24/7. Call or text our 24/7 helpline any time at 1-877-870-4673.

Contact Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741

Visit the new Massachusetts Network of Care website to locate behavioral health resources in your area.

Contact SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline. The Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Contact the Massachusetts Emergency Services Program/Mobile Crisis Intervention (ESP/MCI) - 1-877-382-1609 (read more about this program)

SCAMS

ALERT: Malicious Website

It has come to the attention of the Department of Public Health there is a MALICIOUS WEBSITE named "Coronavirus COVID-19 cases by Johns Hopkins University". 

It is circulating on the internet waiting for unwitting internet users to visit the website. Visiting the website infects the computer with an information stealing program which can ex-filtrate a variety of sensitive data.  Furthermore, anyone searching the internet for a Coronavirus map could unwittingly navigate to this malicious website.

Defending Against COVID-19 Cyber Scams

FTC - Federal Trade Commission Avoid Coronavirus Scams

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about fraud schemes related to COVID-19

Department of Justice Report & Information about COVID-19 Fraud

PPE

If you are a current SCIL consumer and require PPE please let your Case Worker know.

PPE Resources for PCA’s and Consumers who are part of the MassHealth PCA program:

1.   Obtaining PPE

a.   PCA Union (1199SEIU): mask and gloves for PCAs (note change in links).  Request online at:

·       www.bit.ly/ppe1199

·       www.bit.ly/ppe1199spanish

·       For PCA’s working as part of the MassHealth PCA Program

b.   LTSS Provider Support Line: for consumers with positive COVID test or presumptive diagnosis. 

·       Call 1-844-368-5184 (toll free)

·       TTY: use MassRelay at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/relay-using-tty

·       For Consumer’s who receive MassHealth  PCA Services

c.   DME( Durable Medical Equipment) Program: for consumers, with prescription from medical provider.  Consumers can:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Everyone in Massachusetts can get a FREE COVID-19 vaccine.

NO ID or Health Insurance needed.

You may be asked for these items, but you can still get vaccinated if you do not have them.

~May, 2021 Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Contact prescribing provider or DME provider.

HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT:

Appointments can be scheduled online by visiting www.mass.gov/COVIDVaccineMap

Residents can select a location from the map on the website and follow prompts to schedule an appointment online.

Appointments can be booked at different provider types (i.e., mass vaccination sites, pharmacies, local vaccination sites) and are located in several communities statewide.

Steps to book an appointment:

1. Visit www.mass.gov/CovidVaccineMap and click on the map.

2. Select a location and schedule an appointment online

3. Have your important information with you, such as your insurance card

4. Fill out the self-attestation form, which will need to be presented at your appointment

Information for community organizations and individuals ages 75 and older can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-people-ages-75-and-older.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION:

Vaccines are provided free of charge. When the appointment is scheduled, the vaccination site will provide specific details on any information you may need to bring to the appointment. Please bring your insurance card to your appointment, if you have one. No one will be denied the vaccine due to a lack of insurance. You will not need to provide a Social Security card or government-issued identification to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. You will never be asked for a credit card number to make an appointment.

SITE LOCATIONS:

Vaccines are available at many different sites that are open to the public, such as:

• A mass vaccination site launched by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Examples of these sites include Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park, Eastfield Mall in Springfield, and the DoubleTree Hotel in Danvers. These sites currently have the most availability for appointments and post a large number of appointments once a week on Thursdays.

• Some local Boards of Public Health administering the vaccine.

• Some local pharmacies administering the vaccine.

• Some primary care providers will be offering the vaccine to patients later in the distribution process. If you are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine from your primary care provider, there is no need to contact your provider at this time. Primary care providers may reach out with more information or schedule an appointment when the vaccine is available. There is no vaccine waitlist or similar process to sign up for with primary care providers.

• Your housing property, if you live in an eligible public or private affordable low-income senior housing there may be an onsite clinic being planned.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE:

If you are unable to schedule an appointment online or need assistance with the scheduling process please contact your SCIL worker or call us at 508-679-9210.

VACCINE SAFETY: The COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The available COVID-19 vaccines are approved and recommended by the FDA and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices following standard testing and approval processes. Vaccines undergo rigorous testing and large clinical trials before they are approved for widespread use. Vaccination is the best protection for these individuals to reduce the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. For more information on COVID-19 vaccine safety visit www.mass.gov/COVIDVaccineSafety.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Information on the COVID-19 vaccine will be updated regularly. Please use the following resources for more information:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Massachusetts

• Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Updates in Massachusetts

• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Timeline and Eligibility

• Current COVID-19 Vaccine Locations

• Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MCVP)

• Information for staff and residents of long term care facilities, ALRs and Rest Homes

• Information for residents and staff of affordable senior housing

• Information for home-based health care workers

• COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety

• Sign-up for COVID-19 Alerts

Boosters

The CDC now recommends a third dose for certain people who got the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Who needs a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines?
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should get another dose. These are people who:

  • Are actively being treated for cancer

  • Have received a solid organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

  • Have received CAR-T cell therapy

  • Have received a stem cell transplant within in the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system after a stem cell transplant

  • Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)

  • Have advanced or untreated HIV infection (i.e., a CD4 count of less than 200)

  • Are taking high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., the equivalent of 20 or more milligrams of Prednisone a day)

  • Are getting other drugs that may suppress the immune response (i.e., tumor-necrosis blockers or other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory)

If I am immunocompromised:

  • Where can I get another dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine? You can search vaccines.gov or visit Mass.gov to find a location near you. You can also text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location. You can contact us at 508-679-9210 for assistance.

  • Do I need a note from my doctor? You will attest to being immunocompromised but you do not need a doctor's note to get another dose.

  • Do I have to get the same vaccine I got for the first two doses? You should get the same vaccine for your third dose as you have for the first two. But if it is not available, you can get the other vaccine. This means that if you got Pfizer for your first two doses, and it is not available, you can get Moderna for the third dose. However, whether you got Pfizer or Moderna, you should not get Johnson & Johnson as a third dose. Also, you should not get more than three doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

  • When should I get a third dose of vaccine? The CDC recommends that you get the third dose at least 28 days after your second dose of vaccine.

  • Is a third dose safe? There is not yet a lot of data on reactions to third doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. So far, reactions to third doses seem to be similar to the first two doses of vaccine. Fatigue and pain at the site of the injection are the most common side effects.

  • Can I stop wearing masks and social distancing if I get third dose? While a third dose of vaccine may increase the protection you have, unless your healthcare provider advises you otherwise, you should still continue to follow current prevention measures. This includes wearing a mask, socially distancing, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

  • What if I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? We do not yet know if anyone needs another dose after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. There is not enough data yet to make any recommendations.

Do I need a third dose or booster if I am not immunocompromised?
The CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time. If you are fully vaccinated, there is nothing else you need to do.