The Pines Resident & Family Portal

Volunteering at the Pines can be as formal or informal as you would like. We have programming that you can help support or you can drop in for visits with your pet. There are so many volunteer opportunities that we are sure there is something that is the right fit for you or another family member.

Do you know a teenager who needs to complete community hours? The Pines is a great opportunity for students to complete their community volunteer hours and give back to the residents.

Please connect with Christina Rochette at ext. 4824 or by email at christina.rochette@muskoka.on.ca(External link)

We look forward to hearing from you!

Please join us in congratulating Dallas Miller as the new Director of Care with The Pines Long Term Care Home. Dallas currently works as the Co-Director of Care with our Fairvern Long-Term Care Home. Dallas will start with the Pines team on Monday, February 3, 2025. She can be found at 98 Pine Street, Bracebridge. Her office is located on the main floor across from the main kitchen. Her email address will remain dallas.miller@muskoka.on.ca(External link) and her extension is 4861.

Dallas holds a Master of Nursing – Leadership in Professional Nursing Practice from the University of Western Ontario as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario. Dallas’ education and work experience through progressive leadership roles have provided her with the ability to create meaningful change and ensure that staff feel empowered, supported, and inspired in their daily roles. Dallas’ experience includes supporting residents in long-term care at Fairvern over the last two years and clients in Specialized Geriatric Services with St. Joseph’s Health Care in London before this. Using leadership skills to promote high-quality, holistic, and safe resident care. As well as mentoring and coaching team members and providing constructive feedback to ensure quality resident care. Dallas brings strong transformational leadership skills as demonstrated through the strength of the team and enabling others to be confident and competent in their roles with a positive and enthusiastic style and vision.

Please join us in welcoming Dallas to her new role with the District. We are excited to have her join the Pines team!

This week, we celebrated Activity Professionals Week and recognized the incredible work of our activity staff! Their creativity, dedication, and passion bring life, joy, and connection to our residents every single day.

From planning engaging programs to making meaningful one-on-one connections, our activity professionals play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for our residents.

Please join me in expressing heartfelt gratitude to our activity team for the difference they make in so many lives. Let’s take a moment this week to say thank you, share a kind word, or simply acknowledge their efforts.

Activity staff, thank you for everything you do.

Christina Rochette

Activities Manager

Thank you to those that were able to attend the meeting. If you would like to review the recording, please click the link below. Moving forward, the records will be the minutes for this Council. Below are the guest speakers who participated in the meeting and information about how to get in touch with a family council member to get more information.

Family Council Agenda January 15, 2025(External link)

Family Council Draft Terms of Reference, January 2025(External link)

Family Council Minutes (Recording) January 15, 2025(External link)

Passcode: D.A0U8R*

January Guest Speakers: Achieva Physiotherapy Services & Restorative Care Leads, Christina Rochette and Natasha Thompson

Resident and Family Engagement Survey Results and Action Plan, Jennifer Ridgley

Family Councils Ontario(External link)

If you have questions and want to learn more about Family Council. Please reach out to Christina Rochette(External link), Family Council liaison, to connect you with a member.

As we are in the midst of the winter weather, we have noted that winter footwear in the home is creating a slipping hazard for residents, staff, and visitors, due to snow melting off the boots.

We encourage you to bring a change of footwear or you can apply the boot covers provided in the front entrance of the home. We have added a bench and an area for you to place your boots when visiting. Please see the picture above.

Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe in the home.

Reducing the risk of serious illness for residents and the risk of outbreaks is important to quality care. One of the biggest ways to keep the residents healthy is to wash our hands. Please ensure you use the hand sanitizer coming into the home, when leaving, and when entering and exiting each home area at a minimum. It is also recommended to sanitize your hands before and after a meal with your loved one, and after you cough or sneeze.

We have added an automatic hand sanitizer with information to help support this processing when entering the home. This is the most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of infections in the home.

We have been through several outbreaks in the past few months and want to ensure that we are doing everything possible to prevent the residents from getting sick.

Please be diligent with your hand hygiene when in the home.

If you have any questions related to this or other infection control practices in the home, please connect with Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead at ext. 4752 or stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca(External link)

Updated versions are now available on the Resident and Family Portal. On the right-hand sidebar under Emergency Preparedness Plans, you can request to see a printed copy at the home.

Family Council Meeting

When: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 6:30 p.m.

Where: Virtual

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82942296115?pwd=Rks4eDY3UVFSM1ZTeXFYOXAvTDhhZz09(External link)

Meeting ID: 829 4229 6115

Passcode: 656014

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 Christina Rochette(External link), Activities Manager, and Family Council Liasion to connect you with a member of family council.

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area Outbreak has been declared over. General visitors are now welcome in the home area. Please ensure that you screen yourself before your visit and if your feeeling unwell, please postpone your visit. Please also ensure that you are diligent with hand hygiene when in the home. Thank you for your patience as we worked through the outbreak.