The Pines Resident & Family Portal

Making sure that we have great people on staff to care for your loved one is a top priority. We have been working hard to recruit skilled and caring employees to fill all of our staff rosters. We know that people in healthcare have a lot of choices when it comes to employment and the needs of employees today are different than it was a few years ago. That is why we have been working non-stop with our team in Human Resources and an external expert consultant on recruitment and retention of employees.

We know that many of our current employees and potential applicants are looking for flexible scheduling options that are different than what we currently offer. We have already started implementing the results of this work.

One of the changes included aligning the nursing care team start times and this was done in September. We also trialed 12-hour shifts with a small group of PSW staff in the fall. We have received feedback from the trial and are working on developing scheduling options for the PSW staff.

We will be presenting the new schedules to the PSW staff in the first quarter of 2025 and staff will go through a process of bidding on lines that work best for them. This will cause some changes in the home related to caregivers in specific home areas. We want you to know that we will assist staff and residents with the changes to try and make the disruptions as little as possible and ensure that team members get to know the needs of the residents in the home area that they will be assigned to. Please know that moving forward there will be changes from time to time to help support the resident care for all residents that call the Pines their home. If you have any questions, please connect with a Nursing Leadership Team member.

Kim Sander, DOC, kimberly.sander@muskoka.on.ca

Jennifer Carriere, ADOC, jennifer.carriere@muskoka.on.ca

Natasha Duchno, ADOC, natasha.duchno@muskoka.on.ca

Thank you so much to the 81 individuals who took the time to answer the Survey. Your feedback is important to us, and it helps us understand where our team needs to focus our efforts for 2025.

The 2024 Resident and Family Engagement Survey (click on this link) is now available to complete. Watch for the survey on the weekly updates or find it in the Resident and Family Portal. We need your feedback to help support the quality of life for the residents in the home.

Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey and provide us with your views of the care for your loved one.

Paper copies are available at the sign-in desk if you prefer to complete it this way. Please seal it in the envelope provided once complete and provide it to the front office staff.

Thank you so much to the 75 individuals who took the time to answer the Survey. Your feedback is important to us, and it helps us understand where our team needs to focus our efforts for 2025.

The 2024 Resident and Family Engagement Survey (click on this link above) is now available to complete. Watch for the survey on the weekly updates or find it in the Resident and Family Portal. We need your feedback to help support the quality of life for the residents in the home.

Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey and provide us with your views of the care for your loved one.

Paper copies are available at the sign-in desk if you prefer to complete it this way. Please seal it in the envelope provided once complete and provide it to the front office staff.

On Remembrance Day, Canadians pause to honour those who have served and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict, and peace. More than 2,300,000 Canadians have served and more than 118,000 made the ultimate sacrifice. The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. The reason that the poppy is worn for Remembrance Day is due to a Canadian physician and poet who noticed how quickly poppies had grown over the graves of soldiers who had died during the Battle of Ypres. This symbolism of the blood-red flowers was beautifully captured by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in his 1915 poem ‘In Flanders Fields.’

Most of us have a loved one who has served or is serving, and I am thankful every day for these individuals. Because of them, we get to live the lives that we have today. I look forward to celebrating our veterans living in the home.

Indigenous Veterans Day is observed on November 8, to recognize the courage and sacrifice of First Nation, Inuit and Métis people in military service.

It is estimated that, in total, over 12,000 Indigenous people have volunteered their services on the front lines, serving in all conflicts that Canada has been involved in.

The First Nations, Inuit and Métis have a long and proud tradition of military service to Canada, which continues today with Indigenous people serving in Canadian Armed Forces around the world — from NATO duties in Europe to United Nations peace operations.

On the home front, Indigenous people donated large amounts of money, clothing and food to worthy causes. Indigenous women had important roles during conflicts — serving as nurses, air traffic controllers and radio operators.

On Indigenous Veterans Day, we honour the important contributions of Indigenous peoples to protect rights and freedom in Canada, and we remember those who lost their lives for our country and those whose lives were forever changed.

Learn more about Indigenous veterans.

From: https://www.ontario.ca/page/remembrance-day?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx6-xmJfNiQMVlhitBh3hkSnZEAAYASAAEgJRa_D_BwE

The formation of residents’ rights began in the early 1950s. The Ontario Residents’ Bill of Rights is embedded in our provincial legislation, the Fixing Long-Term Care Act (FLTCA), 2021, and accompanying Regulations (O. Reg. 246/22).

https://www.ontarc.com/residents-bill-of-rights.html

The team at the home completed annual mandatory training in early October. As part of that education we reviewed the Zero Tolerance of Resident Abuse and Neglect Program. We would also like to provide this education to each of you and remind you to please reach out if you ever have concerns about the care of your loved one.

Our Nursing Leadership Team:

Kim Sander, Director of Care- kimberly.sander@muskoka.on.ca

Jennifer Carriere, Assistant Director of Care- jennifer.carriere@muskoka.on.ca

Natasha Duchno, Assistant Director of Care- natasha.duchno@muskoka.on.ca

Administrator:

Jennifer Ridgley- jennifer.ridgley@muskoka.on.ca

Please see the attached documents for a review of this important resident program.

Zero Tolerance of Resident Abuse and Neglect Program

Whistleblower Policy

Resident Bill of Rights

A Public Inspection and Order Report has been posted on the ministry's Reports on Long-Term Care Homes website, and can be accessed through this link.

Thank you very much for all your patience as we worked through this most recent renovation to the home. The carpet in the hallways of Oak and Cedar Home Areas has been removed and replaced with vinyl plank flooring. There will be more to come related to flooring in 2025, stay tuned.

Please contact Steve Files, at steve.files@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4804, if you have any questions regarding this project.

When: Wednesday, November 20th 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Where: The Pines in the Fran Coleman Committee Room and virtual if you require

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82942296115?pwd=Rks4eDY3UVFSM1ZTeXFYOXAvTDhhZz09

(External link)

Meeting ID: 829 4229 6115

Passcode: 656014

Guest Speaker: Sheri Kidson, Pharmacist with CareRx

• Refreshments will be served

We look forward to seeing you there!

Family Councils Ontario

(External link)

If you have questions and want to learn more about Family Council. Please reach out to Jennifer Ridgley (Administrator) at jennifer.ridgley@muskoka.on.ca