Dear Friends,
Since my update to you all last Friday, the situation regarding COVID19 has continued to escalate, with Massachusetts issuing a state of emergency, and new global, federal, and state guidance that puts those with immunodeficiency or over the age of 60 at the greatest risk for catching this virus, and suggests social distancing to slow the speed of infection.
As I said last week, the safety and health of the older adults and volunteers in our programs is of the utmost important to Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (LBFE). And so, for the safety and health of the older adults in our program, LBFE Boston will discontinue all in-person programming from today until March 31st. Additionally, many nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior housing communities, and senior centers are closing their doors to the outside to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns, and do not visit or report to any CitySites or Programs until further notice.
At the end of March, we will reevaluate the situation, make a decision, and provide an update about programs going in to April. Given that our mission is to relieve isolation and loneliness, this is a difficult, but necessary, decision to ensure we do not put the health and safety of an already especially vulnerable population at risk.
But even as we practice personal distancing and self-isolation for the coming weeks, you can help us continue to alleviate loneliness and maintain digital connections with our friends.
· Phone Calls: For volunteers and students who visit with individuals one-on-one, please reach out by phone and check in on a regular basis to say hello. If you learn of an urgent matter, as always, please reach out to us for guidance and assistance.
· Video Messages: To the rest of our community, we’re asking you to send in video messages for the older adults we serve. We would like to let our friends know that while we can’t visit, we are always thinking of them. We will upload your messages to our YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram for older adults to watch from home. We’ll give them instructions on how to watch and share messages of their own as well. Your messages of friendship and hope will let them know that they are never alone!
Please follow the following guidelines to share a video:
· Videos should respond to prompts given by LBFE (we’ll send out new prompts regularly as time passes).
· Videos should not exceed 60 seconds in length.
· Please do not use anyone’s name and location in the same video, or their full name ever. For example:
o You can say “Hi Jane, wanted to tell you that I’m thinking of you”
o But you cannot say “Hi Jane from Boston Nursing Home!”
o You cannot say “Hi Jane Doe! I miss you!”
· If your message is in a language other than English, please provide English subtitles.
Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, and continued dedication as we navigate through this challenging time. Your messages of hope will make people feel connected to their community during a time of quiet isolation.
Warmly,
Nikki Shults
Executive Director
PS For our first round of video messages, share your favorite memory with LBFE
