News and Updates
Community Pathways
Enjoying Time at Home
We are all spending a lot of time at home right now.
Watching the news is important but we need to do things that are fun, too!
It is important to find ways to enjoy yourself. We all have different abilities.
Below are some activities you might enjoy.
Activities at Home
Start a journal. You can write in it or draw a picture each day.
Write a letter to someone.
Do a puzzle.
Play cards or a board game with someone who lives in your home.
Connect with you friends on the phone. Set-up a virtual social hour and visit friends on-line. For tips on video chatting click here.
Use your library card at home on your computer to access e-books and audio books. Find out more here.
Find free Audiobooks on Audible.
Project Aon: Choose Your Own Adventure
Have a Virtual Experience
Exhibitions at the Louvre.
Google Earth has virtual tours of national parks.
How about a virtual Disneyland ride?
Listen to Music
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: Small concerts prerecorded live to watch online.
Physical Exercise
Yoga with Adriene: Fun and light-hearted yoga classes.
Take a walk.
Ride a bike.
Move your body to the best of your ability.
Be careful to practice social distancing if you exercise outside. Maintain at least six feet between everyone you encounter and avoid touching shared surfaces like picnic tables, playgrounds or bike racks.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
The Coronavirus outbreak has changed our lives. Change is hard. Change can make us feel unsafe.
The number one thing our brains want more than anything is safety.
What is a “sense of safety”?
A belief that your needs will be met.
A belief that you are protected from harm.
You have many safety nets to help you. Safety nets include: family, friends, providers, personal agents, doctors and others around you.
Here are steps you can take to help you feel more calm.
Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling.
I’ve been feeling nervous, sad, mad, alone and confused.
Just saying that makes me feel less alone.
It is okay to feel what you are feeling right now.
Dr. Siegel explains how we can “name it to tame it” in this video.
2. Talk with someone about how you feel.
Your PA is here for you. You are not alone.
Connect with someone each day.
Reach out to a professional if you are feeling hopeless.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
3. Breathe.
Try this easy breathing exercise:
Pretend you are smelling a flower and breathe in through your nose.
Pretend you are blowing out a candle and exhale through your mouth.
Inhale counting 1,2,3,4.
Exhale counting 1,2,3,4,5,6.
Give your breath a rhythm and smoothness.
Breathing deep can calm your nervous system and help you feel better.
Take a moment to breathe some fresh air. Sit outside.
4. Create a new routine for yourself at home.
Knowing what will happen during your day can bring you comfort.
5. If you take prescription medications, remember to take your medications.
Many people take medications to help them feel better.
Have your prescriptions filled and on hand.
If you need help filling a prescription please let your PA know.
Talk with your doctor about your medications if you feel like they are not working.
For more tips on taking care of your mental health click here.
Read more about managing stress and anxiety on the CDC website.
Take Steps to Stop the Spread
Visit Community Pathways’ COVID-19 web page for more information about how and why preventing the spread of Coronavirus is so important right now.
OHA’s infection control guidance for workers providing in-home personal care was issued on March 10, 2020. This is an important guide for providers. Please note that the CDC now recommends waiting at least 72 hours to leave your home after your fever is completely gone, instead of the 24 hours previously stated in this guide. Click here to read more of CDC’s current recommendations about what to do if someone is sick.
"Stay Home, Save Lives"
Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order on March 23, 2020 for Oregonians to stay home. The Governor wants people to only travel when it is absolutely necessary. The Governor has listed when it is okay to travel, like going out for medical needs and/or going to the grocery store. The less we travel the more we keep each other safe. Remember, right now we want to decrease the spread of the virus and keep ourselves healthy.
Many more businesses are now closed. When possible, people are working from home and keeping a safe distance from one another, just like the Community Pathways staff. Check with your employer to find out if you are considered an essential employee and are still required to go into work. If you need help having this conversation with your employer, please let your Personal Agent know.
Things in your life might be changing because of the Coronavirus. We want to hear from you. Keep your Personal Agent up to date as your needs change. Reach out to your providers. We know staying home is hard. We are in it with you.
You can find more details about what it means to “minimize your travel” in the official Executive Order.
Helpful Resources for COVID-19
The links below include collections of food access, shelters, crisis hotlines, information for workers and students, online fitness, education, and volunteer/donation opportunities to use during the changes we are all experiencing during the Coronavirus outbreak. Hopefully they are helpful to you or someone you know.