Amerisafe brings ‘hugging station’ to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville

Patrick Varine | Thursday, January 14, 2021 1:21 p.m.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Jamie Sciullo of Greensburg (left) and Mary Tyke of Verona visit with their mother, Jean Barnett, 96, at a “hugging station” set up by Amerisafe at Redstone Highlands senior living community in Murrysville on Jan. 7. At the station, residents and their families could hug through a plastic barrier installed in one of the doorways. Tyke and Sciullo said it was the first time they were able to hug their mother since March because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Amerisafe workers brought their “hugging station” to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville recently. The station — where the company and center staff set up dual plastic sheeting over a doorway — comes equipped with “sleeves” to allow residents to interact with family, giving many the chance to hug a loved one for the first time since the covid-19 pandemic began nearly a year ago.