DMVA Safeguards Health of Residents by Restricting Visitation to its Six Veterans Homes

Annville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is taking extra precaution to safeguard the health of its residents and staff against COVID-19 by restricting visitors to its six veterans homes for the foreseeable future. The only exceptions will be in compassionate cases, when a resident’s heath becomes severely critical. In those cases, visitors will be subjected to a brief health assessment and will only have access to their specific resident’s room.

“Our residents are predominantly older and many have multiple complex health conditions, so we are taking this extra precaution to minimize their risk of exposure to COVID-19,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “We realize family and friends want to spend time with their loved ones, but we hope they understand that this temporary inconvenience is prudent and necessary to minimize the risk of exposure. We apologize in advance and thank everyone for their cooperation.”

This is a precautionary measure and currently there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in any of the six veterans homes. The DMVA visitation policy mimics the federal VA, which is also not allowing visitors into any of their 134 nursing homes across the country.

Family members and other loved ones are still welcome to communicate with residents through electronic or digital means. Additionally, families are encouraged to contact the clinical treatment teams at each home should they have any questions or concerns.

The DMVA provides residency to more than 1,300 eligible veterans and their spouses throughout the commonwealth. The six veterans homes are: the Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home in Philadelphia; the Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center in Scranton; the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home in Hollidaysburg; the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Erie; the Southeastern Veterans’ Center in Spring City; and the Southwestern Veterans’ Center in Pittsburgh.