March 2, 2021
On February 23, JAA completed three official CVS Pharmacy Partners vaccine clinics. We began the process a month-and-a-half earlier with a prayer from Rabbi Small and ended with a hearty cheer on the first warm, sunny day of the year, in keeping with our outlook for the future.
The month of March brings more changes as we begin communal dining at Weinberg Terrace and Weinberg Village. It is so nice getting to see each other again while having a meal together. Dining room meals are structured to assure the utmost health and safety for all. We will roll out dining services carefully, informing residents as we take turns in a socially distanced dining room layout.
Activities are beginning to pick up too. We are engaging residents in small groups, with many of our favorites coming back on rotation like Bingo, exercise, crafts, movies, and trivia to start.
One of our favorite activities is having our hair and beards cut and styled by Leanne. She has certainly been missed. She recently has renewed her duties with complimentary haircuts and is now swinging back into regular pre-scheduled services for any resident who needs some TLC and hair therapy.
At the New Riverview apartments, the salon is also open and services for housecleaning and laundry are at the ready. Exercise classes and other programs to engage the mind and body are in the works.
AHAVA residents are on the go, with regular dining and activities throughout our public spaces, all overseen by our expert staff with safety precautions in place.
So the big question is, what about visitation? When will that go back to the way things used to be?
For now we are able to offer indoor window visits (at the Weinbergs), outdoor window visits (at AHAVA), virtual visits at all four communities, and plans to do our very best to bring families together again.
The CDC and our PA Department of Health have not released any new guidance for resident visitation. Everyone involved awaits those new rules so that we can begin to enjoy each other’s company again, in person and face to face.
Our families have been asked to endure nearly a full year of incredible sacrifice and it is difficult to continue to ask for patience and understanding. Yet, we do and they oblige, albeit with an eye to the future when life will get back to some semblance of normalcy.