The Pines Resident & Family Portal

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed annually on November 25. The day is dedicated to raising awareness that women globally are subjected to various forms of violence and that the scale and true nature of the issue are often hidden.

The date of November 25 was chosen to honor the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 on the orders of the country's ruler, Rafael Trujillo. Their legacy inspired global action against gender-based violence. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated November 25 as the International Day, inviting governments, international organizations, and NGOs to organize activities and raise public awareness of the issue.

The International Day also marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. This period provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The campaign uses the color orange as a unifying theme to symbolize a brighter future free from violence.

Each year, the day highlights specific issues surrounding gender-based violence. The theme for the 2025 campaign is "UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls". The focus is on mobilizing action from all members of society, including governments and technology companies, to address online harassment, deepfakes, and other forms of technology-facilitated abuse that can spill into physical violence.

We invite everyone to wear purple or orange on November 25 to raise awareness.

For more information, please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2024/11/international-day-of-eliminating-violence.html

It’s that time of year when our team reviews the Fire Plan to ensure it remains current and continues to meet the needs of our residents, staff, visitors, and home. Please find attached the updated Fire Plan for your review.

Fire Plan 2025 Reviewed November 2025

If you have any questions, please connect with Steve Files at steve.files@muskoka.on.ca

In collaboration with Public Health, Oak Unit is under Enhanced Surveillance for suspected Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). Currently, four residents are experiencing symptoms of loose stools.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) can spread very easily. For this reason, proper hand hygiene and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential. If you have any questions about these precautions during your visit, please speak with the nursing staff.

The following infection control measures are to be implemented and followed:

• Ensure the Public Health 4 moments of Hand Hygiene are followed
• No impact to Visitors at this time
• Resident's Hand Hygiene before all meals and regularly throughout the day
• Ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used properly- including donning before entering and removing before exiting the isolated resident’s room
• Residents are to remain in the affected home area at this time to reduce the risk of spread
• Immediate isolation of any residents with new symptom onset
• Cohorting of residents and only small group activities in the home area for unaffected residents. Isolated residents to receive one-to-one activities.
• Twice daily high-touch surface cleaning- changing disinfecting product to a 1-minute contact time and containing sporicidal

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions. stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca or ext. 4752

Join us on November 22 at 10:00 a.m. for a special gathering with our residents and the Girl Guides. This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect, share, and strengthen community bonds.

✨ We’d love to see you there—your presence makes a difference!

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is observed each year on November 20 to honor and remember the transgender people whose lives have been tragically lost to acts of anti-transgender violence.

This day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by the transgender community, while also affirming the importance of solidarity, visibility, and advocacy.

In the week leading up to TDOR, communities across the country recognize Transgender Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising visibility, educating others about transgender experiences, and addressing the challenges the community continues to face.

Together, these observances encourage reflection, remembrance, and action—inviting everyone to show support, uplift transgender voices, and work toward a more inclusive and compassionate society.

“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”

– Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith

For more information, please see https://glaad.org/tdor/

Help Us Enhance Care at The Pines

Your feedback plays a vital role in ensuring high-quality care for our residents. When you have a moment, please complete the survey—either with the resident or on their behalf—by clicking the link below. Your input truly makes a difference.

2025 Resident and Family Engagement Survey

UPDATE: There are paper copies available beside the sign-in tablets in the home for those who prefer. Please drop your completed survey at the front office.

Please respond to the questions provided in the survey either as the resident or on behalf of the resident, if you are a person of importance. Responses for the resident should reflect your observations and experiences during your time with them. Your feedback is highly valued and will help us make meaningful improvements to the quality of care in the years ahead.

Persons of importance may include anyone significant to the resident, such as family members, Power of Attorney (POA), Substitute Decision Makers (SDM), essential caregivers, and close friends.

We’re delighted to share recent enhancements to The Butterfly Program, including the launch of The Butterfly Hub—a dedicated space designed to support compassionate care. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the Pines Support Committee, whose partnership has been invaluable. Thank you for helping bring this vision to life.

The Butterfly Hub now serves as the central home for essential program resources and proudly features our newly redesigned Compassionate Care Carts. These carts were thoughtfully reimagined in response to feedback from residents’ loved ones, who noted that the previous versions were too large and cumbersome. Embracing a “less-is-more” philosophy, the new carts are:

• Compact and easy to maneuver
• Stocked with non-perishable, meaningful items
• Curated to minimize waste while maximizing comfort

This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement. By listening, adapting, and evolving, we ensure that our care remains responsive, respectful, and deeply human.

Our team remains deeply committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who calls our home their own. We continue to enhance our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism Cultural Competency Plan, incorporating valuable input from residents, staff, persons of importance, and other key stakeholders.

We invite you to review the attached plan to learn more about our ongoing efforts and shared vision for a more equitable and respectful community.

The Pines Long Term Care Cultural Competency Plan 2025

It’s that time of year again—our updated, home-specific Outbreak Plan for 2025–2026 is now available. Please click the link below to review the latest protocols and ensure we’re all doing our part to keep our community safe.

As a reminder, when visiting:

• Stay home if you're feeling unwell
• Practice proper hand hygiene upon arrival and throughout your visit
• Check in before visiting to confirm the home is not in outbreak status
• Follow all required procedures and protocols during your visit

Your cooperation helps protect the health and well-being of our residents, staff, and visitors. Thank you for your continued support.

Home Specific Outbreak Plan 2025