Updated Tuesday, March 17, 4 PM – originally posted Monday, March 16 at 6:30 PM

JAA has restricted access to its Charles Morris Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, AHAVA Memory Care Center of Excellence, Residence at Weinberg Village and Bartlett Street’s Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Terrace. If you do not work in a JAA building, you will not have access to it. JAA staff and approved private care attendants are permitted to enter but must be screened, with hands sanitized and temperatures taken at the entrances to either Charles Morris’ Wintergarden, Weinberg Village, or Weinberg Terrace.

We welcome calls, Skype, FaceTime, and email connections between families and friends and your loved ones. Even though you cannot be here in person, seeing or hearing from you provides such uplifting moments for our residents.  Call our family hotline to arrange a connection!

JAA FAMILY HOTLINE: 412 521 5765

With the confirmation of seven cases of the coronavirus in Allegheny County, two in Washington and one in Beaver Co, JAA has graduated to Level 2 of its preparedness plan with these precautions now in effect:

• Residents and clients are vigilantly monitored by our nursing staff for any changes in condition.Symptoms in seniors may not be apparent, especially in the first week of the virus. Altered mental status and fatigue without an elevated fever are symptoms we are monitoring.
• Medical providers are contacted whenever conditions warrant a higher level of action (includes fever, cough, shortness of breath).
• Outside appointments by residents are kept to a minimum.  If necessary, we will enact all protocols for protecting the resident and drivers.
• Institute telemedicine (doctor visits by video) when appropriate.
• Staff assist with video calls (Skype, FaceTime) between residents and families, as well as continue regular lines of communications including telephones and emails.
• All visitors, vendors, and volunteers remain restricted from entering any JAA building.
• Essential service visits do occur with vendors met at the door with proper clearances strictly enforced.
• On a case-by-case basis, we are determining visitation options in situations where residents have a significant issue or change in condition or end-of-life may be imminent.
• Upon entering a JAA building, all staff screened with temperatures taken. Staff practice constant sanitizing of hands and work stations, and make proper use of Personal Protective Equipment.
• Congregate meals for residents are restricted. Dining by tray service is in effect.
• Physical therapy treatments at PT@JCC have relocated to JAA’s outpatient therapy facility in an isolated part of the building with limited access. Physical Therapy clients are screened and temperatures taken upon entry. Ample parking is located directly outside the therapy facility. Patients who drive should follow signs for AHAVA Memory Care parking lot.  Shuttle service for patients who need assistance continues, with necessary vehicle cleaning precautions taken. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 412-421-7400.
• Staff showing signs of illness, whether symptomatic of the coronavirus or not, are restricted from coming to work. JAA’s Infection Preventionist monitors and contacts the staff member’s Primary Care Physician before any staff person returns to work.
• Riverview Apartments are encouraged to follow JAA’s protocols for visitation restrictions; screening of any visitors entering the building; precautions against the spread of the virus are in place including hand sanitization, cough and sneeze etiquette, social distancing, disinfection of high touch areas, limitations on congregating in the facility and dining in individual apartments.
  • No family, guests, visitors are permitted. Residents are asked to notify those who should know about those restrictions.
  • The main entrance to Riverview now has a kiosk that screens all healthcare providers and care attendants.  
  • Only essential visitors and employees are permitted in the towers
  • All essential visitors are screened for risk factors and symptoms
  • Care givers are permitted as long as they comply with screening policies
  • There is only one controlled entry way to the building, at the front entry off Garetta Street
  • These activities have been suspended: social programming, social congregating, communal services (the gym, synagogue and hair salon) and housekeeping services..
  • Only emergency maintenance is being performed.
  • Only essential deliveries are permitted and only during business hours
  • Deliveries are dropped at front entry and residents are called to pick them up.

Anyone with questions about JAA’s response to the virus are encouraged to:

• Call our family and care provider hotline at 412-521-5675

• Email us at infojaa@jaapgh.org

• Check back for more information at jaapgh.org/news.