Update on COVID-19

April 27, 2020

April 27, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 23, 2020

April 23, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 16, 2020

April 16, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 13, 2020

April 13, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 9, 2020

April 9, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 6, 2020

April 6, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020 Phone Script from CEO

March 31, 2020

Weekly Covid-19 Update Phone Script

March 27, 2020

A Message for Bridgewell Parents, Guardians and Families

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. I am writing to update you on a couple of new developments, based on Governor Baker’s most recent closures and restrictions. With Massachusetts schools now closed until May 4, so are Bridgewell’s six day habilitation and employment support programs. In addition, Bridgewell residential programs will not be open to visitors until May 4.

Day & Employment Support Programs

I know that the day program closures create a significant hardship on families who’s loved ones attend our day programs, especially for those who live at home. The consistency, structure, engagement and participation that day habilitation programs provide to your family member is hard to replace. For those who are able, we have some virtual programming we are offering through our Family Support Center. I encourage you to visit our Family Support Center webpage calendar listings for more information.

Visitations

I can’t imagine how hard it is not to see your family member for weeks at a time. I know that many of our families have regular visits with the people in our care. Our residential home staff is trying to bridge this gap as much as they can with the technology available. We are continuing to think of new ways to connect you as much as we can with your loved one, while still preserving the precautions that are in place for everyone’s health and safety. More to come on this.

Keep Connected

These are unprecedented times and we are trying to keep you informed and connected in real time as much as possible. Beginning Tuesday, March 31 at noon, we will be posting a recorded phone message from me at 339-883-2201. The message will also be posted to our website and social media channels (@bridgewellorg) to keep everyone informed on various activities happening in our programs. After Tuesday, there will be a recording posted at noon every Monday and Thursday for the near future.

Advocacy

So many of you have reached out asking how you can help during this time and I’m grateful for all your support. One thing you can do is to reach out to your legislators today in support of human and social service organizations. This loss of revenue has created a significant negative impact not just on Bridgewell’s fiscal health but many human and social service providers who protect, care and support thousands of people in congregate care and other supportive systems every day. Human service providers need immediate and sustained financial relief to preserve the safety net for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens. Please click for talking points on this issue and you can look up your legislators here.

Thank you for your continued support of Bridgewell, our staff and the people we have the privilege of serving. Be well.

Best regards,

Christopher Tuttle

President and CEO

March 17, 2020

At Bridgewell, the health and safety of the people in our care and our staff remain our highest priorities. Beginning March 18, to comply with the CDC’s and Governor Baker’s latest restrictions and guidelines, Bridgewell is not allowing  guests, including family members, to visit its programs for the foreseeable future. Our staff is in direct contact with families and will make every effort and accommodation to utilize other communication methods to keep people connected during this time. We continue to ask for your understanding and flexibility as we navigate this rapidly evolving and unprecedented health situation.  Thank you.

March 16, 2020

I am writing you with an update about Bridgewell activities and program status. Last night, Governor Baker announced further restrictions and closings in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a result, beginning Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, April 3, Bridgewell’s six day habilitation and employment support programs – Kelly J. Martin Day Habilitation and Employment Support Programs, Rosewood I, II & III Day Habilitation and Employment Support Programs, Roseway and Maple Street Day Habilitation Programs – will be closed.

We will be deploying day staff into the residential programs to assist with the care of individuals as well as providing continued day habilitation programming. We are currently developing a plan on ways to engage and continue the day program curriculum so as to provide as much continuity and normalcy as possible.

Currently there are NO staff members who have tested positive for COVID -19. Additionally, there are NO individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. We do have several staff and individuals who have tested positive for influenza B. Our health coordinators and nursing staff are working with the programs serving these people and we are making sure all staff with the flu and/or flu-like symptoms are staying home to take care of themselves. As a further precaution, we are taking all individuals who present with cold/flu-like symptoms to be tested.

We continue to screen all visitors to our programs by asking them questions, as a way to further decrease risk to our staff and the people we serve. We ask that you please limit your visitations if possible and to not visit if you are not well. All of the procedures we have in place are in line with CDC recommendations and we continue to monitor changes in recommended protocol on a daily basis.

It is times like this that our services are needed most. The staff are very committed to making sure the people we serve are well cared for. During these uncertain times, we will continue to provide the highest level of emotional, mental and physical support to the people we have the privilege of serving.

March 12, 2020

The health and safety of the people in our care and our staff are our highest priority. As we continue to actively monitor developments related to coronavirus (COVID-19), I want to personally share with you what we are doing above and beyond our usual measures to maintain healthy and safe environments in Bridgewell programs.

At this time, Bridgewell has not had any positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). We are actively reviewing new public health information as it becomes available and continue to be proactive with recommended actions. Our health care team is working closely with all staff and people in our care and monitoring situations as they arise. We are taking extra precautions such as screening visitors for symptoms of COVID-19 and we have increased the frequency of the deep cleaning of our facilities.

We will continue to work closely with our state partners during this crisis and provide periodic updates. The Bridgewell staff are dedicated and committed to the people we have the privilege of serving.  Thank you in advance for your support and flexibility during this unique situation that we are in.

Christopher Tuttle
President & CEO