COVID-19 Resource Library

As we all adjust to the “new normal” during this public health crisis, we want to make sure you have access to the knowledge you need in order to protect your health, safety, and welfare, or be the very best caregiver that you can be. Here you’ll find a collection of Iona blog posts and other valuable information.

If you have any additional questions, need referrals, or want to discuss your concerns with a real person, you can also call Iona’s free Helpline. We’re here to answer your questions and direct you to the services that you need. Contact (202) 895-9448, and press 1 to reach the Helpline, or email info@iona.org.

Updates from Iona

Iona’s leadership and staff are closely following developments from the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and welfare of our clients, staff, and volunteers are our top priority. Our main building located at 4125 Albemarle St NW, Washington, DC 20016 and our two adult day health centers in Tenleytown and Congress Heights are open five days a week.

FOR AN ENTIRE LIST OF PROGRAM AND SERVICE UPDATES, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

District of Columbia residents ages 5 and up are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-in vaccination sites are available citywide. To learn more about these sites, please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/get-vaccinated. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine.

Please note: Iona is NOT a vaccination site. 

Transportation for vaccine appointments

The District’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) cover all transportation (free of charge) to and from all medically necessary covered services and appointments. To request transportation, the Enrollee should call the following number to schedule the service:

  • AmeriHealth 1-800-315-3485 (Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM)
  • CareFirst 1-855-824-5693 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
  • MedStar Health 1-866-201-9974
  • MetroAccess 301-562-5360

How to Stay Safe

We encourage everyone to monitor updates and take hygiene precautions as suggested by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Stop Spread of Germs_English_Social Media

Stop Spread of Germs_Multiple Languages_Social Media

Food Access

Through the Department of Aging and Community Living, Iona is able to deliver 7 frozen meals/week to eligible older adults. Please call (202) 895-9448 and press 1 to reach the Helpline, or email info@iona.org for more information and to enroll in meal delivery. 

Stores Opening Early for Seniors

Other Grocery Store Senior Hours:

Aldi – Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30am – 9:30am
Costco – Monday to Friday: 9am – 10am
Harris Teeter – Monday, Thursday: 6am – 8am

Other Food Resources:

Scams During Covid-19

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has released a consumer alert related to scams during the COVID crisis. Scammers may attempt to defraud consumers by selling products that are ineffective at preventing the disease and spreading misinformation through social media and other channels. Other scammers may pretend to solicit donations to help coronavirus victims, but instead are stealing consumers’ money and personal information.

Read the Consumer Alert in full here

What to look out for:

  • Scammers may set up websites to sell bogus “coronavirus products” — from face masks to vaccines to cure-alls — and use fake emails, texts and social media posts to get you to share payment or sensitive personal information.
  • You may come across emails or social posts claiming to promote awareness or give prevention tips, including fake information about cases in your neighborhood.
  • Scammers may use this as a way to tout a new can’t-miss “investment opportunity” — for example, in face masks or a cure.
  • You may get donation requests claiming to raise money to help victims.

Tips from the Federal Trade Commission:

  • Don’t click on email links from sources you don’t know. They could download malware on your device.
  • Ignore any online offers for vaccinations or treatments. If a vaccine or treatment is developed, you will hear about it in the news, not from an online ad or sales pitch.
  • If you receive a communication claiming to be from a government agency like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close the email and then visit the agency’s website directly at www.cdc.gov.
  • Engage your inner skeptic when confronted with donation requests from unknown sources. Before giving, check out charity watchdogs like give.org or charitynavigator.org.

Reported Scams:

  • Spammers Sending Unsolicited Text Messages Referencing Food Stamps
  • Scammers Offer Phony SNAP Application Assistance
  • Scammers Offering Assistance to SNAP Retail Stores for a Fee
  • SNAP Toll-Free Hotline Number Spoofed By External Entity

Click here for any updates to reported scam concerns

Office of the Attorney General Covid-19 Know Your Rights Fact Sheet

Social & Wellness Activities

  • Iona has in-person and virtual classes and activities including exercise, art, wellness, and more. To view available opportunities and register, visit the Around Town DC website here: https://www.aroundtowndc.org/.  Email community@iona.com if you need help.
  • We’ve compiled a list of online platforms that you can use to stay in touch with friends and loved ones: Technology to Stay Connected through COVID-19.
  • Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders (SAGE) is offering support for LGBT older adults who feel isolated during this time by matching them with community members to connect about their day, or just to say “hi.” For more information about the Sage connect program, visit sageusa.org/sageconnect, or call 929-484-4160 to register for the program. For help, the SAGE hotline number is 877-360-LGBT (5428).
  • Online recreational classes now being offered by OASIS  and Live & Learn Bethesda.
  • If you’re looking for someone to talk to while you’re staying home, try the The Department of Aging and Community Living DC Call & Talk program. To enroll in the program, call 202-724-5626. You will go through their voice mail prompts, and talk to one of the Information & Referral coordinators. They will have someone call you within 24 hours, and after an interview, you will be assigned someone as your conversation partner.

List of online activities you can do at home

Mental Health and Self-Care

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) has created a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety. The situation today may be different next month or even tomorrow. Things are changing fast. During stressful times, practicing self-care becomes even more important. Practicing self-care and simple grounding techniques can help put a pause on these feelings of stress, as well as connecting with individual or group therapy.

  1. Iona’s blog, Practicing Self-Care in Uncertain Times 
  2. Iona’s blog, 10 Mental Health & Wellness Quarantine Tips 
  3. Mental Health Support Resource Guide from Embody Lib
  4. There are many tools and applications to use on your phone, computer, or smart device that can help with deep breathing or meditation.
  5. Find therapists providing  tele-mental health via the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (https://adaa.org/finding-help/telemental-health/provider_listing) or via Help Pro’s Advanced Search (https://helppro.com/HP/AdvancedSearch.aspx); search under “accessibility/availability” option.
  6. How to prepare for online counseling: https://onlinecounselingprograms.com/blog/find-prepare-online-counseling-session/

Caregiver Resources

  1. Iona’s Blog Post, “Resources for Family Caregivers During the Covid-19 Crisis”
  2. New Paid Sick Leave and FMLA Leave in the Families First Response Act
  3. Iona’s Blog Post, “COVID-19 Resources for “Grandfamilies”
  4. The Creative Caregiving Guide© was created by the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA). The Guide is filled with short video lessons that guide users through hands-on learning experiences, from paintings, poetry, music, storytelling, to drama and dance exercises. It is a FREE, community-shared, web-based resource specially designed for family and professional caregivers of adults who live with Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive disorders.
  5. Updated federal guidance on “caring for someone [with COVID-19] at home” available from the CDC.

Villages

Villages are neighborhood-based organizations that assist people age in the community safely and comfortably. Most models are membership-based with services such as transportation, computer training, and home maintenance. Often these services are provided by volunteers and vetted professional providers. Villages also may offer social and educational activities. This is a good time to reach out to your Village to see what services they are offering members.

 Maryland Villages

Virginia Villages

How You Can Help

If you’re looking for ways to support your neighbors —whether financially, donating your time, or dropping off supplies, the following list of organizations/efforts may be looking for assistance:

Help keep Iona’s safety net services going!

We are navigating uncharted waters and face significant funding gaps. If you’re able to, we would be grateful for any financial assistance. Your contribution will go towards supporting older adults and families during this crisis—providing food to homebound seniors, offering virtual wellness and fitness programs that address isolation, continuing support groups and psychotherapy online, answering calls on our Helpline, coordinating care for vulnerable older adults, making wellness check-in calls, and performing other essential services.

Donate to Iona

Other organization efforts:

  • Bread for the City – Accepting monetary donations for groceries, diapers, and medical supplies to give clients during open hours. Please consider making a donation to support their efforts here.
  • Capital Area Food Bank – They are experiencing a shortage of volunteers, and are in critical need of help sorting and packing food in their warehouse and assisting at their offsite food distributions.  To learn more and sign up, visit volunteer.capitalareafoodbank.org.
  • DC Mutual Aid – Neighbors Helping Neighbors efforts to organize by pods. Opens spreadsheet of efforts (click through all tabs)
  •  DMV Neighbors Helping Each Other Through COVID-19 – A Facebook group connecting neighbors to assist each other during COVID.
  • Dining at a Distance – Support restaurants while practicing social distancing. Here is a list of local restaurants and business who are operating delivery and carry-out, as well as ways to support local business during temporary closures.
  • Feeding America Meal Connect – Restaurants can sign up and donate their surplus food (tax deductible) to food banks in the area. Restaurants can schedule a pick up time for food banks to pick the food up.
  • Food & Friends– Free meal and grocery delivery available to people living with life-challenging illnesses. Clients must be referred by a healthcare provider. They are in urgent need of extra volunteers throughout the coming weeks. There are two volunteer opportunities, food preparation and packaging and meal and grocery delivery. More information found here.
  • Food it Forward – Help keep DC restaurant jobs, and help feed DC families in need by buying a meal package. Martha’s Table has teamed up with Clyde’s Restaurant Group, amongst others, to deliver meals to those in need — while helping keep restaurant workers employed.
  • Martha’s Table –  Volunteers may be needed to help prepare and bag food.
  • Miriam’s Kitchen– In need of financial donations to help neighbors experiencing homelessness receive access to a sink or have a home to stay when they are sick.
  • So Others Might Eat (SOME) – SOME is in need of items to support their clients who may be ill.
  • The Table Church – The Table DC is organizing volunteers to help at-risk members of the DMV community who should not leave their homes during this crisis.
  • We Are Family – Volunteer to deliver groceries to seniors

Other Information on Volunteering:

  1. Iona’s blog post, Covid-19 Safety Tips for Helping Others
  2. If you’re volunteering or participating in mutual aid efforts, please read these safety practices compiled by Mutual Aid Disaster Relief. Access the PDF here.

Other Resources

  • Coronavirus Resources from the Mayor’s office: coronavirus.dc.gov
  • Legal Aid DC: Non-legal Resource Guide 
  • DC Jobs With Justice has compiled a Know Your Rights resource guide, with information about unemployment benefits, taking time off from your job, DC Alliance Insurance, and tenant rights. Available at this link.
  • The People’s School of DC has compiled DMV local resources. Access it here. 
  • COVID-19 fact sheets in 35 languages now available from the Health Literacy Project. Available here. 

Disclaimer

The information curated here in Iona’s Covid-19 Resource Library  is provided as a public service for informational purposes only, and does not signify any affiliation between these organizations and services and Iona. Iona does not endorse or guarantee the information’s current accuracy. This resource is not intended to render professional or medical advice. We encourage you to request further information and references from the service providers before using their services. We welcome your comments about our Resource Library and the services listed. If you’d like to recommend a resource for our library, or provide feedback, please email comms@iona.org.

If you have any questions about what you may expect from Iona during the COVID-19 crisis, please give us a call at 202-895-9448 and Press 1 to connect to the Helpline, or email info@iona.org. We are here to support you.