May 15, 2020

Dear Life Unlimited Friends and Family,

To keep you up to date about Life Unlimited’s services, and as our awe-inspiring teams continue to work to overcome unforeseen challenges presented by COVID-19, we have a few recent updates to share:

  • One positive COVID-19 case at Life Unlimited — Though none of the individuals we serve have had COVID-19, we want to be fully transparent and let you know we did have one staff member test positive for the virus last week. The person contracted the virus outside of work and is now quarantined and safely recovering at home. We are pleased to report all individuals in the home where this person works, as well as staff who came in contact with this person, have been tested and are negative. This is a true testament to the importance of masks, hand washing, and other hygiene protocols we have been strictly following in our homes and with our staff and individuals served. We encourage everyone reading this to wear masks and continue to follow CDC guidelines when going out in public. You may feel more at ease as businesses begin to reopen, but it is extremely important to continue to safeguard not only yourself, but also individuals you encounter who may be most susceptible to COVID-19 complications.

  • Training and certification — We are excited to share one of our DSPs, Brandi Hatfield, has completed a national certification program from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and is the first in our organization to earn DSP-I certification. NADSP certification means our DSPs are learning and applying best practices and evidence-based skill and knowledge in the workplace. During this pandemic all our staff continue to undergo rigorous trainings and onboarding, some of the most in-depth and comprehensive programs in our field. Congratulations to Brandi and our other DSPs who are working on nationally recognized certifications. If you have questions or would like more information about our training and certification programs, please contact Vincent Bustamante.

  • DSP Day — To recognize the tireless hard work and dedication of our DSPs and other frontline staff, we’re celebrating them by hosting a special DSP Day later this month. On Friday, May 29 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., we will have a reverse parade for our employees to drive through and receive T-shirts, a catered take-home meal for their families, and more as we express our gratitude and unending thanks. Please email Denise Garcia if you have questions. You can also still show your support by donating to our relief fund established to help DSPs during this crisis. We can’t thank you enough for showing DSPs how valuable and essential they are!

  • Reopening — Unfortunately, we still have no set plans to reopen our offices and programs. We will likely maintain limited visitation only as needed for some time as we continue to monitor infection rates and consult with local health leaders. Even as the areas we serve steadily begin to reopen, we believe it is better to wait than to be hasty when it comes to the safety of staff and individuals we care for. We will continue to keep you updated as things progress, but please know nothing about this time or these decisions has come easy. We must always operate with health and safety as our guiding principles.

As our community continues to hold onto hope for a return to regular operations and programming, we are so honored and heartened to have you in our corner—to literally see and feel your support every day. That’s how we are certain we can get through this.

In the meantime, we’re always here if you have any questions.

Wishing you the best,

The Life Unlimited Leadership Team
If you know others who would like to be added to our email list for regular updates and communications about our COVID-19 preparation plans, send names and email addresses to  bschneweis@luinc.org .