Local assisted living facility to allow family visits inside, defying state recommendation

PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Peters Township assisted living facility is defying the state’s recommendation to continue visitation restrictions.

Paramount Senior Living will reopen its doors Monday to once again allow family members to see their loved ones.

If you want to receive Allegheny County news alerts, please download our WPXI News App. You can also follow WPXI on Facebook and Twitter.

Paramount Senior Living will reopen its doors Monday to once again allow family members to see their loved ones.

“What we're trying to do at this point is add some type of happiness to the people who live with us and their family members,” said James Cox, CEO and president of Paramount Senior Living.

Paramount told Channel 11’s Angie Moreschi it was a difficult decision, but after nearly three months of visitation restrictions due to the COVID-19 crisis, it’s taking too much of a toll on residents.

“We’re starting to see some mental health issues among the residents here,” said Cox. “They’re acting out. There’s a lot of behavior issues because they’re just lonely.”

Doreen Leech, who’s 93-year old mother is a resident at Paramount, said she’s happy that the facility made the decision to take this big step.

"We were ecstatic. In fact, we were crying about it because we never thought we'd get to see her this early," Leech said. “I truly did not think we would see my mother until late July, maybe early August.”

Time to open

Pennsylvania health officials continue to recommend that all extended care facilities maintain visitation restrictions, despite entering the green phase.

“We need to continue this mitigation effort to make sure that our most vulnerable individuals remain safe. We encourage alternative means of communication for residents to stay in touch with their family, friends, community members and advocates while we take necessary health and safety precautions,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

Paramount, however, believes they can allow people in safely. The Peters Township facility is COVID-19 free and they believe they can keep it that way.

They will follow strict precautions for all visitors, including the following:

• Only two family members can visit at a time, by appointment only
• Masks and gloves required at all times
• Social distancing must be followed
• Visitors screened before entering, including questions related to travel and symptoms
• Temperatures will be checked

“We’re not just going to open up the building doors and say everybody come on in. This will be a managed approach,” Cox said. “We are going to make sure we are complying with the social distancing, with the protective equipment everybody should have on … no hugs, no touching, no kissing.”

Donald Trump pushes for payroll tax cut Donald Trump pushes for payroll tax cut

© 2020 Cox Media Group