Foothills Caring Corps

March 18, 2020
FOOTHILLS CARING CORPS UPDATE

We would like to let the community know that we are currently able to safely provide services and to know some of the cautions that we are taking when helping our Neighbors and volunteers. Our goal is to help reduce anxiety and let the community know that we are open and that we are maintaining our schedule in a limited fashion to do the best we can to help one another. Our primary community effort is focused on utilizing the telephone to make telephone reassurance calls, not only for our volunteers and Neighbors but all of our neighbors throughout our Desert Foothills communities who are isolated and alone. We hope to start a surge of neighbors telephoning neighbors to help reduce the panic and worry. We also want to share community resources as much as is possible so people know what is available to them. We hope you might reach out and help.

Hello All:
A very quick copy of the procedures we have been following as well as added new guidelines for the additional safety of our volunteers, Neighbors and staff.

For the next 45 days

The loan closet is not accepting used medical equipment at this time based on sanitizing issues that could be harmful for volunteers and staff. Until this virus threat is under control, we will only be able to give out items that have already been sanitized.

The van program staff and volunteers will routinely sanitize the vans being utilized and each rider will be cautioned to maintain sanitary precautions. We have cancelled all the trips that have large group socializations. Instead we will continue those that are smaller or mainly utilitarian. (Grocery shopping trips will continue)

The mobile meals drivers continue to use hand sanitizing materials/solutions between each of the meal deliveries and monitor if any of the Neighbors are sick. Neighbors are asked to call in if they are sick. Volunteers as always have known not to volunteer if sick but we are stressing this saying just call in if you don’t feel well. We are in constant contact with the hospital café (our vendor) to make sure of any special safety precautions.

We are accepting minimal requests for services such as friendly visiting, respite care, friendly pet visiting, computer work, and handyman. Based on safety issues, the services are provided on a VERY limited basis.

The medical transportation program is requesting Neighbors only use our transportation services on a limited basis for those extremely necessary appointments. We are hoping that people can reschedule some of their annual exams and can instead touch base with their physician’s office by phone.

Nancy will not be doing home visits for new neighbors requesting services unless they fall into particular categories which she and I have developed. This will keep her healthy as well as monitor those needing services. Some of these folks will be put on a waiting list based on their situations. Additionally, new volunteers will cautiously be trained and utilized based on their circumstances. We can use volunteers who might like to volunteer to call homebound neighbors for the next 45 days.

We also are asking four questions of the folks who are both serving and those who are being served:

1. Do you have a fever
2. Do you have any symptoms of low respiratory systems such as cough and/or shortness of breath
3. Have you been exposed to anyone you know that has tested positive for COVID- 19
4. Have you been exposed to anyone who has traveled from one of the affected areas

For your safety when coming to our offices, the two office doors that will be used to get in and out of offices will be those doors in 104 and 101 where there are automatic doors with touch buttons to open.

I hope this is helpful. I welcome comments that you might have. Our goal is to provide services that are necessary for the wellbeing of our Neighbors & community neighbors but also take into account the safety of our volunteers and staff.

Thank you for sharing this information to all those who are asking about our services. It is my hope that this threat will lessen within the next 45 days.

Debbra Determan, MSW-MPH Executive Director
Foothills Caring Corps, Inc.
P.O. Box 831
7275 E Easy Street Carefree, AZ 85377
Services@FoothillsCaringCorps.com
Cell 602-803-0450
480-488-1105