March 13, 2020
ERIE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES SUSPENDS SOME SERVICES
Actions taken in response to COVID-19 pandemic
ERIE COUNTY, NY— As a result of the COVID19 Pandemic Erie County Senior Services (“ECSS”) will be suspending the following services until further notice:
Congregate Dining: Effective Tuesday, March 17th. Site directors will begin contacting regular participants Monday to inquire if they are interested in receiving Home Delivered Meals. Those interested will be contacted by ECSS staff to register them. Any senior who wishes to call directly can call 858-8526 to register. New participants to the Home Delivered Meal Program could begin as soon as Wednesday.
Wellness Programs: Effective Monday March 16th. Site directors will begin contacting regular participants to notify them.
Home Visits: Effective Monday March 16th. ECSS staff will contact those who have appointments scheduled to inform them that appointments will now be via phone or video teleconference.
The following programs have reduced or amended protocols to decrease the potential spread of COVID19 and protect employees, volunteers, and participants.
Home Delivered Meals: Contact between delivery personnel and participants will be kept to a six-foot distance. Delivery personnel will contact participants a few minutes before arriving and ask that their door be unlocked if they don’t already have a location where a meal can be set that can be safely accessed by the participant. Delivery personnel and participants will still have a visual contact to ensure the participant is safe. Delivery personnel will have hand sanitizer.
Senior Transportation: Effective Wednesday March 18th only rides for dialysis patients will be provided. All non-essential transportation is cancelled. If the senior is concerned he/she should contact ECSS dispatch 858-RIDE (7433) and a determination will be made if transportation can be provided. Drivers have been provided with surface wipes, hand sanitizer, and have been provided information on personnel safety protocols.
The following senior organizations have already suspended their services:
- Catholic Charities – Gathering Place Adult Day Care
- Salvation Army (Main St.) – Congregate Dining
- City of Tonawanda Senior Center – All Programs
- Cheektowaga Senior Center – All Programs
- North West Senior Center - All Programs
“I want to personally thank FeedMore WNY, Amherst Meals on Wheels, Ken Ton Meals on Wheels, and the numerous community partners that services seniors for their cooperation in these changes. It is great to see the community working together during this crisis. We could not do this without them,” said David Shenk, Erie County Senior Services Commissioner.
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