By Gina Macris

(This article was updated Nov. 18)

Rhode Island group home residents living every day with intellectual and developmental challenges will now have to cope with yet another hurdle - a ban on receiving visitors or visiting family homes – coming just a week before Thanksgiving.

With the state headed toward a lockdown to contain a surge in coronavirus cases, the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) has advised operators of all state-licensed congregate care settings, including 291 group homes for adults with developmental disabilities, to suspend visits of residents with family and others except in “very specific compassionate care situations.”

At the same time, group home operators “must have a process in place, at all times, to facilitate remote communications between a resident and a virtual visitor” through video calls and other applications on cell phones or tablets, according to BHDDH director A. Kathryn Power.

Kevin Savage, the Director of Developmental Disabilities, announced the visitation ban during a quarterly public forum Monday, Nov. 16. He said BHDDH issued the advisory Friday, Nov. 13 to service providers.

Among the 291 group homes for adults with developmental disabilities, 63 staff members and 33 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks, Savage said, but none have been hospitalized during that time.

Those figures were disputed Nov. 18 by David Reis, CEO of the Fogarty Center, a private service agency, who said that one staff member died of COVID-19 on Monday and four group home residents are currently hospitalized. A BHDDH spokesman said he would make every effort to double-check the state’s figures as soon as possible.

On Nov. 10, the spokesman said that earlier in the year, a total of 12 people had died from COVID-19, including 9 residents and 3 staff members.

Savage recognized the impact that long-term quarantine or social isolation may have on everyone involved. He urged people to use the mental health activities that BHDDH puts out online. For the BHDDH COVID_19 resources page, including mental health tips, click here.

He also promoted a new series of free, virtual workshops for caregivers sponsored by the Rhode Island Parent Information Network, starting November 17.

Called “Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” the 90-minute virtual workshops feature six weeks of group sessions aimed at helping caregivers cope with issues involving stress management and communication. To learn more or sign up, call the Community Health Network at 401-432-7217 or visit www.ripin.org/chn. The Community Health Network is an initiative of the RI Department of Health administered by RIPIN.

In the wake of reduced social services resulting from the pandemic, Savage indicated that individually-allocated budgets may be used for supports other than staff time, like cell phones or tablets that would help those with developmental disabilities keep in touch with families and friends.

Those who don’t know how to go about requesting the technology, or want to explore other options for their budgets, should start with their social caseworkers, and if they can’t be reached, their supervisors, Savage said. Social workers “won’t get in trouble” if their supervisors are called, he said in response to questions from the online audience. If all else fails, he advised, those seeking information should call the main number at the Division of Developmental Disabilities. That number is listed as 401-462-3201 on the BHDDH website.