Agewell at the JCC Squirrel Hill
Offerings Include:
- Low-cost kosher lunch Monday through Friday. Seating options are available for participants to enjoy their meal with friends.
- Information and referral services
- Wellness programming
- Evidence-based and evidence-informed programs such as
- HomeMeds, Chronic Disease
- Management and Aging
- Mastery series
- Education opportunities in person and hybrid with virtual programming through Virtual Senior Academy
- Social programs and get togethers
- Volunteer opportunities
Registration and Contact Information
How to Register for AgeWell at the JCC
Participants must be 60 years or older and a resident of Allegheny County to join AgeWell at the JCC. Services include Community Membership to the JCC and access to J Cafe meals.
Appointments are preferred. Please call or stop by the office to make an appointment:
- Squirrel Hill: Room 201, 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday. 412-697-3514.
Contacts
Registration, Other Services:
Call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW
Virtual Senior Academy:
Fitness Classes:
Information & Referral, Volunteering:
Programs and Activities
TRANSPORTATION
ACCESS
ACCESS is a shared-ride paratransit service, which has been providing door-to-door, advanced reservation transportation in Allegheny County since 1979. If you have questions about how to use ACCESS to get to and from any of the locations served by Elder Express on other days or at other times, please contact the ACCESS program office at 412-562-5353. Any trip taken on Elder Express is also available from ACCESS, seven days per week between the hours of 6 AM and midnight. Anyone aged 65 and over is eligible. Seniors can register for ACCESS transportation in either Squirrel Hill or the South Hills AgeWell at the JCC offices. Call to make an appointment.
OPT
“Older Persons Transportation” known commonly as OPT, is another transportation option through ACCESS that you can register for in our JCC offices. This service offers an additional discount for trips to medical appointments, grocery shopping trips and to Age Well at the JCC.
Medical Assistance Transportation (MATP)
For individuals who have medical assistance for their health insurance, free rides on ACCESS are available to eligible medical appointments. Call for information.
AgeWell Rides
AgeWell Rides is a volunteer-based transportation system for people ages 60 or over who do not drive and provides a way for seniors to get to medical appointments, go grocery shopping, do some volunteer work, or attend social events in the community while at the same time making a friendly new acquaintance. Call for more information.
PRT ConnectCard
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) offers The Senior Citizen ConnectCard which allows seniors age 65+ to ride Pittsburgh buses and other public transit vehicles for free across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Call to find your most convenient location for registering.
A to B Transportation Options
The purpose of the A to B Transportation Planner is to assist Allegheny County residents in identifying possible transportation options tailored to their specific needs, preferences, and abilities. A to B is a project of Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh—an initiative working to make Allegheny County more inclusive and respectful of all ages. Visit www.atoballegheny.com to use this interactive tool.
We appreciate your understanding and are working to find suitable options to meet the needs of the community.
PROGRAMS
Ongoing Programs
Chess
Mondays, 11 am-12 pm in Room 202. For more information, call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
Choral Group
Fridays at 12 pm in Levinson Hall B. For more information, call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
Discussion Group
Tuesdays, 10 am-11 am in Room 202. Come and connect in a weekly roundtable discussion group. Meet other AgeWell members, exchange ideas and comments on various topics selected by this self-led group. For more information, call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
Weekly Movies
Wednesdays at 1 pm in Room 202. Weekly movie screenings at the JCC. A mix of new releases and older classics will be shown. For more information, call or email Beth Rudel.
Blood Pressure Screenings
Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, 11 am-12 pm in the Palm Court. For more information, call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
One-On-One Tech Tutoring
Need help with your tablet or laptop? Got questions about your cell phone? We have volunteer tech tutors that are here to help. These sessions are one-on-one and by appointment only. For more information or to make an appointment, call or email Maddie Barnes.
Page Turner’s Book Club
Last Monday of each month, at 11 am in Room 310 or online on the VSA. Facilitator is book enthusiast and AgeWell volunteer Randy Detweiler. For exact dates and book titles, call or email Maddie Barnes.
Scrabble Club
Mondays, 1:30 pm in Room 202. For more information, call or email Beth Rudel.
Coffee & Conversations with Amy
Last Thursday of each month, at 1:15 pm in Room 202. Join AgeWell staff member Amy Gold, MSW for monthly coffee and conversation! Amy will start the conversation centered around different topics that impact older adults across our community and then we will have an open discussion where we can share different points of view and offer local resources related to that month’s topic. Call or email Amy Gold.
Doc Talk
Monthly at 1 pm, dates vary. Join local doctors for a monthly “Doc’ Talk”. Rotating medical professionals will cover a variety of topics important to older adults and their health and well-being. September’s topic is “Fall Prevention” with Nurse Joselyn Rosenberg from Robert Morris University, and it will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 1-2 pm in Room 202 and on the Virtual Senior Academy website.
For other dates and guest speaker information, call or email Maddie Barnes.
Handy Andy
Monthly, dates vary, in Room 202 or online on the Virtual Senior Academy. Join local radio personality, ‘Mr. True Value”- Andy Amrhein from Evey True Value. Handy Andy covers a variety of topics important to you and recommends his favorite products to do the jobs around your home that you have questions about. For more information, call or email Beth Rudel.
Observational Drawing Series with Liz
Monthly, dates vary. AgeWell members of all skill levels are welcome. The instructor will go over the basics of observational drawing using charcoal. For more information, call or email Liz Sherlock.
Science Cafe
Monthly, dates vary. Streaming in Room 202 and online on the virtualsenioracademy.org. Join Portland, Oregon resident Dr. Amanda Duncan for an educational science series. Amanda has a PhD is engineering and a long-time interest in discussing topics in science and technology that affect public policy and our view of the universe. Questions about this program? Call or email Maddie Barnes.
Dr. Elizabeth Rodenz Presentations
Monthly, dates vary. Dr. Elizabeth Rodenz is an educator, editor, executive coach, workshop facilitator, management consultant, entrepreneur, writer/author and an AgeWell JCC member. Topics for presentations change monthly. For more information, call or email Maddie Barnes.
Jewish History
Fridays, 10-11 am in Room 202.
Presented by Alex Orbach, Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh. Questions?
Call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
Weekly Torah Readings with Rabbi Teitlbaum
Fridays at 12 pm in the J Cafe. For more information, call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
Ethics of our Fathers with Rabbi Yehudah Gorkin
Mondays at 12 pm in the J Cafe . For more information, call or email Darlene Cridlin, LCSW.
*Class schedule is as of 8/27/24 and is subject to change. Contact AgeWell staff for more details.
THE J CAFE
The J Cafe at JCC Squirrel Hill
We serve freshly prepared, nutritious, Kosher meals to active Allegheny County residents. Enjoy your meal with friends and make new acquaintances.
To join us for our in-person lunch you must be 60+ years old, an Allegheny County resident and registered with AgeWell.
How to become a registered participant for J Cafe
Please call our office at 412-697-3517 or simply stop by the AgeWell office, #201, to inquire about registration. Registration is completed in the AgeWell office. Make sure bring proof of age and residence. State ID or drivers license preferred.
Once you are a registered participant, please call 412-567-1715 to reserve your lunch by 4 PM the business day before the day you want to have lunch, and on Friday by 4 pm to reserve for Monday.
Lunch will be served between 11 AM – 1 PM, Monday through Friday, in the J Cafe. We are closed on various holidays. A donation of $1.50 is suggested though no one who is eligible is turned away.
Please note: To reserve lunch for the day following a JCC closure (for holidays etc.), please call the phone line by 4 pm on the business day immediately before the closed day.
Once registered please call 412-567-1715 to make your reservation.
Contact Us
Write to us. We’re here to help!
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