Do you know a senior in the Park Rapids, Minnesota area who could use assistance in continuing to live safely at home? We can help.
*Special Message regarding COVID-19*
At Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area we are staying attuned to the situation with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are looking at how we can help and protect the people we serve and our volunteers. We will be following recommendation from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and from state and local public health. At this point in time, we are continuing with our regular volunteer services, but if advised by the MN Dept. of Health and/or the CDC we will cancel those services as well. We are implementing a series of screening questions as clients call to request services. Likewise, we will be asking those same questions of our volunteers.
The CDC has recommended for the age group we serve that activities and events with 10 or more participants be cancelled. Therefore, Living at Home sponsored activities and events including Senior Coffee and Caregiver Discussion Group are cancelled until further notice. We will be evaluating the situation daily and will publish a notice when those activities will resume. We will publish these updates on Facebook and here our website at www.parkrapidslivingathome.org.
We are recommending that everyone follows the CDC recommendations for everyday preventive measures:
- Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms.
- Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can.
- Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
- Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects in common use spaces.
The CDC has identified that people at higher risk for COVID-19 are older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:
- Stock up on supplies including extra food, medications, pet supplies and other provisions in the home if they need to spend two weeks at home.
- Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
- When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds as much as possible.
- Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed. While the developments with COVID-19 are very concerning, we have a supportive community here in Hubbard County and a good public health system in Minnesota to guide us through this.
Connie Carmichael
Executive Director
Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area
Census 2020
We Need Your Help to Respond to the Census
A reminder to look for the 2020 census that will be mailed to you between March 12 and 20. Expect the census to look different than in the past as this is the first census with an option to respond electronically. Depending on where you live you will get a traditional paper version of the census, or a postcard to respond via internet or phone. If you do not get the paper version and do not have internet you can respond by phone, or wait until April 8 when paper forms will be mailed to people who have not responded yet. Responses to the 2020 Census will influence funding in our community for services that help every generation. It is especially important to get a complete count of people 65+ as that affects funding for services to help people stay living at home. Missing just one person in the census will result in loss of over $27,000 of federal funding to Minnesota over the 10 years until the next census.
