A message from Crest Service Director Jan Caldwell (COVID-19 Update–April 30, 2020):

I wanted to reach out to you as our State is beginning to slowly re-open.  As far as Crest Services, we are following the Phase 1, 2 and 3 recommendations from the President’s Coronavirus Task Force.  We will not be changing any of our procedures during this time.  We are still keeping our members who live in our daily sites home.  At this time no vocational sites have re-opened and as they do, we will assess each location based on data from Iowa Department of Public Health.  We are limiting community activities.   We will ensure members have groceries.  We have implemented on-line ordering, delivery or have the Program Director/Assistant Program Director doing the shopping.  We cancelled all non-essential medical appointments.  If a member has a medical condition that needs attention, we have ensured medical treatment, but all other appointments have or will be rescheduled. We will continue to follow the CDC and Task Force recommendations to refrain from visiting in person with your loved one.  We have encouraged phone calls, FaceTime, Skype etc. as ways to stay in touch.

I have included the Phase 1, 2 and 3 recommendations below to help you understand our decisions.

Phase 1
ALL VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS* should continue to shelter in place. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents.
VISITS TO LONG TERM CARE/HCBS HOMES should be prohibited. Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene

Phase 2
ALL VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS* should continue to shelter in place. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents. VISITS TO LONG TERM CARE/HCBS HOMES should be prohibited.
Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene

Phase 3
VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, minimizing exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.

VISITS TO LONG TERM CARE/HCBS HOMES can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene

Please remember that the Task Force recommends 14 days (at least) between Phases.  If there is a spike in infections, then we would go back to Phase 1 and another 14 days with no spikes would need to pass before moving onto Phase 2.  We will continue to evaluate our processes during this time.