The Pines Resident & Family Portal

In collaboration with Public Health, the Oak and Cedar Home Areas have declared a Respiratory Outbreak with five (5) residents showing symptoms such as cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, and/or fever. Family members of those residents affected have been notified. We are currently waiting on test results from Public Health.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented or continued at this time:

• Masks and eye protection to be worn in the Oak & Cedar Home Areas
• Residents are to remain in the unit at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• *If residents insist on leaving the unit, please assist them with masking or a visor and encourage outdoor visiting.
• Twice daily respiratory symptom screening in Oak and Cedar Home Areas
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of staff, when possible.
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities on the unit for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits on the unit.
• Limit of two (2) essential caregivers at a time
• No General Visiting to Oak & Cedar home areas

We will continue to provide updates as we move through the outbreak.

If you have any questions please contact John Iskander, IPAC Lead at ext. 4752

Oak Home Area remains on Enhanced Surveillance due to one (1) resident testing positive for COVID-19 with symptoms. Family members of the affected resident have been updated. There is no impact on visiting at this time.

Infection Control Measures in place:

As we receive further updates from Public Health, we will send updates accordingly.

If you have any questions, please reach out to John (IPAC Lead) at ext. 4752

Please be advised, in collaboration with Public Health our Oak Home Area has been placed on Enhanced Surveillance due to one (1) resident testing positive for COVID-19 with symptoms. Family members of the affected resident have been updated. There is no impact on visiting at this time.

Infection Control Measures in place:

As we receive further updates from Public Health, we will send updates accordingly.

If you have any questions, please reach out to John (IPAC Lead) at ext. 4752

Preparedness for Total Solar Eclipse

To ensure the safety of long-term care home staff and residents, the Ministry of Long-Term Care would like to provide information and recommendations to prepare for the upcoming total solar eclipse.

To support these communication efforts, please see the below memo as well as a Solar Eclipse Information and Safety poster that long-term care homes may use to convey precautions residents and families may take.

As part of our continuing IPAC education program requirement, we wanted to review Four Moments of Hand Hygiene.

The four moments include:

1. Moment 1: BEFORE first touching the resident or their environment

2. Moment 2: BEFORE aseptic procedures

3. Moment 3: AFTER body fluid exposure risk

4. Moment 4: AFTER touching the resident or their environment

As part of the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene, an assessment should be done to determine what is considered the resident environment and what is considered the health care environment.

Please review the attached documents with frequently asked questions such as what Hand Hygiene moments, when, and how to perform Hand Hygiene among other concerns.

Please reach out to our IPAC Lead, John at john.iskander@muskoka.on.ca with any questions you may have.

Four Moments of Hand Hygiene

Public Health Frequently Asked Questions Four Moments of Hand Hygiene

Monthly Family Update Meeting

When: Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Join Zoom Meeting Link (below), 6:30 p.m.

Please note: meetings will only be virtual moving forward

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

Meeting ID: 829 4229 6115

Passcode: 656014

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kL9RPl8mM

Join us for the family update meeting using the link above.

We will have Steve Files to discuss Environmental Services (Laundry, Housekeeping, and Maintenance) this month.

The District is thrilled to announce the launch of Episode 2 of our "It’s What We Do" campaign, highlighting the District’s role in Long Term Care, and the positive impact our staff make in the lives of residents and families at the Pines and Fairvern.

This video showcases the commitment our staff demonstrates every day of the year – even during long weekends. It serves as a powerful reminder of the District teams that work around the clock, to ensure services and support are always delivered to our communities, regardless of the day or schedule.

Where can I check it out?

• The video has been uploaded to the District’s YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/fHS1LDpiQt8

Dr.Jennifer Hammell is a new family physician in Bracebridge who graduated medical school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. She completed her third-year community clerkship and residency in Bracebridge. She has a special interest in geriatric and palliative care and holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Science with a minor in Gerontology from the University of Ottawa. She is a Port Carling native and is excited to be back in Muskoka to provide care to her community. In her free time, she enjoys board games and hiking with her husband.

Dr. Hammell will be taking over for Dr. Mittal at the home starting the week of April 1st, 2024. We would like to thank Dr. Mittal for her time with us and care for the residents.

Please help us in welcoming Dr. Hammell!