We have listened to valuable feedback about the emotional impact and feelings of isolation and disconnection that stay-at-home orders are having on some of our community members as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are currently working on a webinar series and we’re developing new initiatives to offer virtual Support Group meetings on behalf of the Amputee Coalition Support Group Network, as well as virtual check-in chats with our volunteers. Stay tuned for more details!
The Amputee Coalition continues to update our Support Group Meeting Calendar and Calendar of Events as we learn of registered support groups and community gatherings switching to virtual meeting platforms, like Zoom. We encourage all interested support group attendees to contact a registered support group from our Support Group Network to learn of any meeting changes or cancellations.
While many, if not all, hospitals and rehab facilities have restricted visitation, we have migrated peer visits to virtual meetings to provide support to new and existing community members. Amputee Coalition Certified Peer Visitors continue to be available through our Support App, as well as by phone, email, video chat, and social media. If you are a Certified Peer Visitor and have not been trained on our support app, our peer support team is here to help and can provide you additional information and guidance. We understand that peer visits may look and feel a bit different for our volunteers and community members right now. Now, more than ever, it is important that our community is connected with one another and that no one feels alone on their journey. Hope, support, resources, and better outcomes for patients and families are available through peer connections.
The Amputee Coalition Support App is a free app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and used on a desktop or personal computer through the Web browser link: https://cpvapp.amputee-coalition.org/. Our app is HIPAA compliant and offers in-app text messaging and in-app video chatting while providing Certified Peer Visitors who are registered app users a convenient method for scheduling, conducting, and reporting peer visits. Peer visits can be requested, scheduled, and conducted all within the comfort and convenience of a mobile device. It also offers community members the ability to request resources and message directly with an Amputee Coalition staff member.
Virtual peer visits can also be requested using our online Request a Peer Visit form, calling 888-267-5669 ext. 8124, or emailing peersupport@amputee-coalition.org. Please visit our How To Find Support webpage to learn more about the various ways to request and receive virtual peer visits.