The Pines Resident & Family Portal

June is Seniors Month in Ontario. The 2023 theme is “Working for Seniors.”

It’s a time to recognize the hard work seniors have done all their lives to make Ontario into the great place it is today.

We are working for seniors by:

• recognizing and celebrating their accomplishments and milestones.
• funding Seniors Active Living Centre programs that promote wellness, social connections, and education in communities across the province.
• making it easier to find programs and services available for seniors in Ontario, including tax credits, health, caregiving, housing, transportation, and staying safe.

Visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/celebrating-seniors-ontario

• Hot Water Boiler replaced
• Planning to replace the HVAC that serves the laundry room.
• Two (2) Walk-in Cooler condensers are being replaced this year.
• The New Generator is on schedule to be installed in the fall; the concrete pad will be installed soon.
• The Emergency Evacuation Ramp from the Oak Home Area will be replaced to match the ramp on the far side of the home.
• Gazebo to be installed for residents that smoke at the front of the home to provide shelter that is at least 9 meters away from the front door.
• New bathtubs have now been installed in our Maple and Birch tub rooms. These state-of-the-art bathtubs feature a technology called Hydrosound.

We wanted to apologize for the miscommunication at the Couples Club on May 28, 2023. Please keep in mind that masks are always required in the home, except for the specific circumstances below.

• The Ministry recommends (but does not require) caregivers and visitors to wear masks alone with a resident in their room.
• Masks are not required outdoors for staff, residents, students, volunteers, or visitors (general or essential); however, outdoor masking is still recommended for staff, students, and volunteers as an added layer of protection when in close proximity to a resident (for example, going for a walk with a resident).
• Removal of masks for the purposes of eating should be restricted to areas designated by the home (which may include a resident’s room).
• Communal Dining-Caregivers and general visitors may accompany a resident for meals to assist them with eating; however, caregivers or general visitors must remain masked at all times and not join in the meal.

Please be aware that we received notification from the Ministry of Long-Term Care that effective July 1, 2023, an inflationary increase of 2.5% will be applied to the co-payment rates for basic and preferred accommodation in Long-Term Care Homes. Please review the information below or through this link, Co-Payment Long-Term Care Homes Bulletin May 31, 2023

With great pleasure, we announce Laura Nicholson to the Nursing Leadership Team as an Assistant Director of Care.

Laura is a Registered Nurse with over 12 years of experience in the nursing field. Most recently, Laura has worked as a Care Coordinator for Home and Community Care Support Services. She also held positions at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital as a Registered Nurse on the float team and with Georgian College as a Clinical Placement Educator. Laura brings a vast knowledge of the steps that our residents face prior to entering a Long-Term Care home and has built many resources and connections within our community to support this process, which will extend to keep her role as ADOC. Laura holds her BScN from Nipissing University, and we believe she will be a valuable asset to our residents, our front-line team members as well as to the nursing leadership team.

Thank you to those that were able to attend the meeting. Below is a copy of the recording as well as the April minutes that were approved at the meeting. Hope to see you at the next meeting.

May 2023 Family Council Meeting Recording

Passcode: jS30tB8^



April 2023 Family Council Meeting Minutes

April 2023 Family Update

Fixing Long Term Care Act, Powers of Family Council

In collaboration with Public Health, the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared over as of May 26, 2023. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this most recent outbreak.

General Visitors are allowed in all home areas at this time.

The Birch Home Area remains in a COVID outbreak at this time. There is currently, one (1) resident positive. Enhanced surveillance in the Cedar Home Area has been lifted. Family members of those affected residents as aware. No General Visitors at this time to Birch Home Area; essential caregiver at a maximum of two (2) at a time.

We will send updates regularly as we work through this most recent outbreak.

Measures at this time include:

• N95 Masks for all on Birch with removal upon exit. Please change into a clean surgical mask when leaving the unit.
• Eye Protection for all on Birch at all times. Please disinfect when leaving the unit.
• On-unit activities for Birch residents only
• twice daily symptom screening for residents on Birch
• Prompt isolation of any symptomatic residents
• Staff Cohorting where possible
• Social distancing where possible
• Resident hand hygiene before meals and snacks and whenever possible
• Enhanced Environmental Cleaning on Birch and in shared spaces in the home

If you have any questions, please connect with Melissa Muir-Clark at ext. 4752

The Birch Home Area remains in a COVID outbreak at this time. There are currently, three (3) residents positive. Enhanced surveillance in the Cedar Home Area has been lifted. Family members of those affected residents as aware. No General Visitors at this time to Birch Home Area; essential caregiver at a maximum of two (2) at a time.

We will send updates regularly as we work through this most recent outbreak.

Measures at this time include:

• N95 Masks for all on Birch with removal upon exit. Please change into a clean surgical mask when leaving the unit.
• Eye Protection for all on Birch at all times. Please disinfect when leaving the unit.
• On-unit activities for Birch residents only
• twice daily symptom screening for residents on Birch
• Prompt isolation of any symptomatic residents
• Staff Cohorting where possible
• Social distancing where possible
• Resident hand hygiene before meals and snacks and whenever possible
• Enhanced Environmental Cleaning on Birch and in shared spaces in the home

If you have any questions, please connect with Melissa Muir-Clark at ext. 4752

The Birch Home Area remains in a COVID outbreak at this time. There are currently, seventeen (17) residents positive. Enhanced surveillance in the Cedar Home Area has been lifted. Family members of those affected residents as aware. No General Visitors at this time to Birch Home Area; essential caregiver at a maximum of two (2) at a time.

We will send updates regularly as we work through this most recent outbreak.

Measures at this time include:

• N95 Masks for all on Birch with removal upon exit. Please change into a clean surgical mask when leaving the unit.
• Eye Protection for all on Birch at all times. Please disinfect when leaving the unit.
• On-unit activities for Birch residents only
• twice daily symptom screening for residents on Birch
• Prompt isolation of any symptomatic residents
• Staff Cohorting where possible
• Social distancing where possible
• Resident hand hygiene before meals and snacks and whenever possible
• Enhanced Environmental Cleaning on Birch and in shared spaces in the home

If you have any questions, please connect with Melissa Muir-Clark at ext. 4752