The Pines Resident & Family Portal

Below is information from the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils regarding the Residents' Bill of Rights. You can click on the links below or the website at the bottom for more information.

The formation of residents’ rights afforded to all persons living in long-term care homes, began in the early 1950’s and grew to 29 distinct rights. The Ontario Residents’ Bill of Rights is embedded in our provincial legislation, Fixing Long-Term Care Act (FLTCA), 2021, and accompanying Regulations (O. Reg. 246/22)

All long-term care homes in Ontario (including those formerly known as nursing homes, municipal homes for the aged, and charitable homes) are governed by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act. The requirements in the LTCHA ensure that residents of these homes receive safe, consistent, and high-quality resident-centered care in settings where residents feel at home, are treated with respect, and have the supports and services they need for their health and well-being.

Residents’ Councils review and promote the Residents’ Bill of Rights. The following resources are some of the supports available to provide a deeper understanding of the rights.

Access the English Residents’ Bill of Rights here.

To access an English video/audio version of the Residents’ Bill of Rights click here.

To access translations of the Residents’ Bill of Rights in different languages, click here.

To learn more about enhancing Residents’ Bill of Rights Education at your home, check our Through Our Eyes

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

As of April 11, 2022, the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 (FLTCA) and Ontario Regulation 246/22 have replaced the previous Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (LTCHA) and Ontario Regulation 79/10 as the governing legislation for long-term care in Ontario.

The FLTCA continues the strong protections for whistle-blowers that were included in the (former) LTCHA, and expand these to apply to any disclosure by anyone to any personnel of the ministry and to a long-term care home's Residents' Council and Family Council, if any.

The whistle-blowing protections are intended to give anyone the confidence to bring forward anything about an LTC home, including the care of a resident, without fear of retaliation.

The FLTCA continues to require licensees to post in the LTC home an explanation of the whistle-blowing protections afforded under the legislation. They must also provide this information specifically to residents, staff, and volunteers.

You can review our Whistle-blowing Policy by clicking on the link below.

Whistle-Blowing Fact Sheet from The Ministry of Long-Term Care

Whistle-blowing Policy

We are happy to confirm that the new dishwasher in the main kitchen and the security screen in the Oak home area have been installed this week. Thank you for being so patient as we completed the improvements to the home.

New Dishwasher

Safety Screen Oak Home Area

Our Residents' Council assisted us in renaming the Chapel in the home to ensure that the space is inclusive for all. Please visit our Multi-Faith and Contemplation Room on the second floor.

In collaboration with Public Health, the COVID Outbreak in the Spruce Home Area has been declared over as of February 21, 2024. Please continue to self-screen before coming to the home and not visit if you are sick. We recommend using surgical masks when visiting and have them available upon your arrival. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this most recent outbreak. Please contact John, IPAC Lead at ext. 4752 if you have Infection Control-related questions.

Spruce Home Area remains in an outbreak related to COVID at this time. Currently, there are no residents isolated with a total of twenty (20) residents that have been infected. Family members of those affected have been notified. We have been in contact with Public Health and will be reviewing the outbreak further on February 21, 2024, for possibly declaring it over. We will provide an update when we can.

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

• N95 Masks and eye protection are to be worn in the Spruce home area at all times.
• 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 on Spruce
• 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 unit.
• Limit of two (2) essential caregivers at a time
• No General Visiting to Spruce home area

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

Our team will be assisting to ensure that resident mobility equipment is cleaned and returned to the resident.

Spruce Home Area remains in an outbreak related to COVID at this time. Currently, there is one (1) residents isolated with a total of twenty (20) residents that have been infected. Family members of those affected have been notified.

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

• N95 Masks and eye protection are to be worn in the Spruce home area at all times.
• 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 on Spruce
• 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 unit.
• Limit of two (2) essential caregivers at a time
• No General Visiting to Spruce home area

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

To improve safety for residents in the Oak home area. A security screen will be installed on the servery on February 22, 2024. The work will start between breakfast and lunch and finish between lunch and dinner to prevent disruption to the resident's meals.

We are happy to report that a new dishwasher will be installed in the kitchen on February 22nd and 23rd, 2024. During this time frame, we will utilize disposable plates and cutlery for resident meals.