Resources for Providers
At the core of CEDAC’s work is our commitment to addressing the needs of our most vulnerable populations, and we understand the profound impact this crisis has had on older adults. Therefore, CEDAC, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and MassHousing and are working together to develop ways to support the well-being of our seniors, particularly those living in age-restricted housing, during this public health crisis.
We recognize your important role in helping our state’s older adults stay healthy and hope you will benefit from the following resources.
COVID-19 AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING LISTSERV
We have created a listserv that will enable us to distribute guidance, share best practices, and disseminate other useful information to you all in a timely manner. If you would like to join this listserv, please complete the form at this website or by clicking here.
DEDICATED EMAIL FOR COVID19 AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING QUESTIONS
In addition to sending information to the field, we would also like to hear from you regarding your experiences related to COVID-19. To accomplish this, we have developed a new email address that you can use to send us COVID-19 related concerns, issues, questions, and situations: SeniorHousingCOVID19@mass.gov.
While we may not be able to answer all your questions, it is important that we are aware of your issues and needs, so that we can appropriately respond at the state level to support your efforts.
WEEKLY AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING CALL
In collaboration with LeadingAge Massachusetts, we will be sponsoring a weekly call to discuss COVID-19 areas of interest and to share information. The calls will take place on Thursdays at noon beginning on April 9, 2020. Information related to registering and joining the calls will be disseminated through the COVID19 Affordable Senior Housing Listserv.
WORKING WITH LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER PARTNERS
EOEA (with MassHealth) supports an extensive network of elder service and home health agencies. We encourage you to reach out to your local Aging Service Access Point (ASAP) agency to address the needs of your residents. Together, engage the local Board of Health to proactively develop contingency plans if residents or staff begin exhibiting symptoms and to determine reporting protocols. Consider identifying a single point of contact within each agency that can have regular check-in calls to discuss issues such as changes in visitor policies, access to the building, access to food, and other policies that jointly impact each agency’s ability to conduct business. Our ability to fight the spread of this disease is predicated on communities coming together and working as a team.
Click here for a list of each ASAP with contact information.
GUIDANCE FROM DHCD REGARDING LIMITING VISITORS IN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING
Click here for a link to Guidance issued by DHCD dated April 2, 2020.
BPHC ADVISORY REQUESTING SENIOR HOUSING TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY VISITATION
Click here to view the Boston Public Health Commission’s advisory to restrict visitation to all Senior Housing in Boston.
OTHER RESOURCES
Click here to check the Mass.gov COVID-19 page for regular updates.
Click here to visit the Mass.gov website dedicated to sharing resources available for individuals and families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19.
Click here to visit CHAPA’s COVID-19 Affordable Housing Updates.
Click here to view the Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s (MHP) update on the Housing Toolbox website to provide municipal volunteers and officials with a one-stop shop for COVID-19 housing resources.
Click here to visit the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) website for national information on housing and homelessness, including federal legislation.
Click here to apply for a rapid response fund up to $2,500 from Fallon Health available to organizations to help in addressing immediate needs around food insecurity and/or social isolation caused by COVID-19. Contact Kimberly Salmon or Cheryl Schmaltz directly at Fallon Health if you have any questions and/or concerns.