The Pines Resident & Family Portal

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, a day to celebrate the rich diversity, history, resilience, and culture of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It's also a time to learn about Indigenous history, cultural traditions, and to commit to Reconciliation. The day coincides with the summer solstice, a date of cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous communities.

Get ready for Jersey Day and an exciting Hockey Tournament! It’s all happening on June 25th in the afternoon at the Fran Coleman Room—don’t miss it!

Antibiotic-resistant infections (ARO) occur when bacteria evolve to become resistant to the effects of antibiotics, making them difficult or impossible to treat. These infections, often called "superbug" infections, can lead to prolonged illness, increased healthcare costs, and higher mortality rates.

What is Antimicrobial/Antibiotic Resistance?

• Resistance development:
• Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can change over time, developing resistance to the medicines designed to kill or control them.
• Impact on treatment:
• When an infection becomes resistant to a particular antibiotic, that antibiotic is no longer effective in treating it.
• Consequences:
• Resistant infections can lead to longer hospital stays, more complex treatments, and an increased risk of complications and death.

Examples of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections:

• MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus):
• A type of staph bacteria resistant to many antibiotics, including methicillin.
• CRE (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae):
• Bacteria resistant to carbapenems, a class of strong antibiotics, are often found in healthcare settings.
• VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci):
• Enterococci bacteria that are resistant to vancomycin, another powerful antibiotic.
• MDR-TB (Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis):
• Tuberculosis bacteria are resistant to at least two of the most powerful anti-TB drugs.

Care for Residents with AROs:

• If your loved one has an antibiotic-resistant infection (ARO), certain precautions are necessary to ensure everyone's safety. During care activities such as nursing or toileting, staff will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of infection.
• In most cases, you will not need to wear PPE during your visit. However, please follow any instructions provided by the care team to help protect yourself and others.
• Thank you for your understanding and support.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie Albert at stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca

Meaningful visits are those that leave a lasting emotional impact, foster connection, and enhance the well-being of the person being visited. Here are some examples:

• Reminiscing together: Bringing old photos or music from the resident’s youth and sharing memories.
• Participating in activities: Joining a bingo game, craft session, or gardening activity with the resident.
• Personalized attention: Reading aloud their favorite book or newspaper, or helping them write letters to loved ones.
• Celebrating milestones: Being present for birthdays, anniversaries, or cultural holidays with thoughtful touches.

Below is a document with more information:

Visiting Tips for Persons of Importance

This month, to explore Stepping In: What you may need to know. We will have a guest speaker, Andrea Groomes, Social Worker, to speak about system navigation and the range of tasks and responsibilities that may be associated with assuming Power of Attorney (POA) responsibilities.

When: Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, at 6:30 pm

Where: In-person in the Fran Coleman Room at the Pines or Virtual using the link below (this is an updated link)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88210402686?pwd=Y7e1HUhD07nm23kCr4iigiob3u1pHw.1

Meeting ID: 882 1040 2686

Passcode: 815834

If you have questions and want to learn more about Family Council. Please reach out to Christina Rochette, Life Enrichment Manager, and Family Council Liaison to connect you with a member of the Family Council.

Our Pines Team is wishing all fathers a very happy Father's Day. We hope you spend time wiht your family and doing what you love.

We would like to thank Dr. Jones for her time with us. She is a very busy physician and, therefore, is stepping away from the Pines to focus on many other areas of her practice. The Nursing Leadership team and our medical director, Dr. Cross, are in the process of reviewing the residents that Dr. Jones was assisting to determine which physician is best to support the resident moving forward. The nursing team will connect with residents and family members who are affected by this change. We will now have four physicians supporting the residents at the Pines: Dr. Cross, Dr. Dechert, Dr. Whynot, and Dr. Hammel.

We wish Dr. Jones all the best!

The education package has been updated for Essential Caregivers. Please review the package attached.

New Essential Caregiver Request and Package

If you have any questions, please connect with Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, at stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca