June 8, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am pleased to share with you that the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has announced that visitations can resume beginning Wednesday, June 10. Please find below the guidelines under which visits will be conducted. These guidelines insure visitations adhere to recommended DDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic.
These guidelines are subject to change as the situation with the pandemic evolves and based on specific circumstances in a residence. We will do our best to provide as much advance notice as possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding, flexibility and assistance in following the established guidelines. We look forward to reuniting the people in our services with their families. I know this has been a hardship for families and persons served to not see their loved ones. Please connect with your residential manager on any questions you might have and to arrange a visit.
Best wishes,
Kelly
Kelly Pottie
Vice President of Residential Living
Residential Program Visitation Guidelines
General:
- Visits will need to be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance.
- Visits will be no more than 30 minutes in length, beginning when everyone has gathered.
- All visits will take place outside on the Bridgewell property in a designated area. Visitors will not be allowed entry into the home or facility for any reason.
- Only one family of one resident will be able to visit at a time.
- Family members visiting will be limited to two members. Children and at-risk people are strongly encouraged to remain home.
- Everyone participating in a visit will need to wear a mask and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times.
- A program staff member will remain with the resident at all times during the visit.
- Barbecues and parties are prohibited.
Visitor Screening:
- All visitors will be screened prior to visiting with a resident. Please find attached the tool that will be used to administer the screening. COVID19 VISITOR SCREENING FORM
- Visitors will not be permitted to visit if they have symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle pain, chills, or new loss of taste or smell.
- Anyone with a fever (100.0 F or higher) will not be permitted to visit the home.
- Visitors will not be permitted to visit if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days or if they have been ordered by a health care professional or public health official to quarantine due to exposure.
- Any visitors who develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 as described above within two days after the visitation must immediately notify the program of the date they were on site, the people they were in contact with, and the locations where the visit occurred.