Rev. Heidi Heath

Supporting the Wellbeing of Vulnerable Adults & Families during the COVID-19 Emergency

Download these Tip Sheets:

Dear Church,

Many New Hampshire congregations are spending more time getting directly in touch with church members, through well-known technologies like phone trees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these calls can be critical for learning about and addressing needs in the lives of already-vulnerable adults, children and families.

The NH Department of Health and Human Services put together two 2-page tip sheets on supporting the well-being of vulnerable adults and families (see link). These tip sheets include questions you might ask during your conversations with adults and families. The sheets also include contact information for mandatory reporting but also for essential services for financial support, housing and more.

As we all learn together, the COVID-19 pandemic has made worse the pre-existing situations in vulnerable people’s lives. I hope that this tip sheet is a support to you as you “tend the flock of God that is in your charge” (1 Peter 5:2).

Yours in faith,

Rev. Jason Wells, Executive Director

 

Download the cover letter below in its original format (PDF).

Dear Service Providers, Neighbors, and Community Partners,

As our state’s most vulnerable adults practice social distancing in their homes, the Department wants to partner with you to ensure people are secure with food, medicine, and more. The Department is asking for your help in distributing the attached tip sheet designed to help confirm that New Hampshire’s vulnerable adults remain safe during the COVID-19 Emergency.

The tip sheet was created in response to the challenges many of New Hampshire’s vulnerable citizens may be experiencing during the COVID-19 emergency, including financial instability, food insecurity, and other stressors. Social distancing has reduced the level of in-person contact with vulnerable adults, which in turn has resulted in fewer calls to the Adult Protective Services Central Intake Line. Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect is critical and is your legal mandate. Helping vulnerable adults get the support they need is critical.

The tip sheet provides you with some questions that you can ask vulnerable adults that will help you determine whether a concern should be reported to Adult Protective Services.

You can help by (1) using this guide when you check in with vulnerable adults and (2) sharing this guide with other partners who have contact with vulnerable adults so that they can do the same.

Now more than ever it is important that we all do our part to make sure vulnerable adults remain healthy, safe, and connected. Thank-you for all you do for vulnerable adults and let’s all stay safe in these unprecedented times.