The Pines Resident & Family Portal

The front balcony at the home will be closed for the next week or two as repairs take place. We are very sorry for any inconvenience. If you wish to use a balcony in the meantime, one is available close to the Birch Home Area and a common courtyard on the main floor.

Notice for 98 Pine Street- Rock Blasting at 100 Pine Street

Thursday, September 12, 2024, between 8:00am to 3:00pm

RE: Rock Blasting at 100 Pine Street

Notice to Staff at 98 Pine Street, Bracebridge

RE: Rock Blasting at 100 Pine Street Construction Site- Building Notice

On Thursday, September 12th, selective rock blasting will be completed at the northeast end of the construction site for 100 Pine Street, located behind the rear parking lot of McVittie Place. This is required work to allow the commencement of building construction on the property. To minimize disruption to the District properties in the area, localized blasting is being completed to avoid prolonged noise caused by equipment removal of rock. Staff and residents will hear a three-horn system prior to blasting at 30 seconds, 2 seconds and an all-clear horn upon completion. Please review with your residents to avoid any concerns during this process.

It is recommended to keep all windows closed on this day to reduce any noise or dust within buildings and vehicles. It is highly recommended to avoid any potential risk of damage to cars in the rear parking area that all staff park vehicles on Pine Street or at 70 Pine Street on this date. All staff and residents are requested to use the main entrance to access the building, where possible on this date to further minimize risk and avoid the construction area entirely at the rear of the building.

The fire route will not be open for foot traffic on this date and municipal sidewalks along Pine Street are recommended for use. For your safety, please obey all posted signage during construction. Staff are reminded not to go beyond any marked or fenced work areas as a safety precaution at any time. Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

Should you have any questions regarding this project please call the following number:

Business Hours: (705) 645-2100, Extension 4510

Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

Shannon Lockwood
Capital Project Co-ordinator, Facilities Services

As we move into fall there is an increase in the risk of cold, flu, and COVID. We ask you to practice the Four (4) Moments of hand hygiene just as our team does to help protect yourself and the residents in the home. Please review the Public Health document below for more information. It is important to sanitize your hands on the way into the home and throughout your visit. We ask that you help your loved one to complete hand hygiene when in to visit, this helps to protect them.

Public Health Ontario states: The four moments of hand hygiene are key indicators of times when health care providers are to clean their hands when providing care or treatment to a patient/resident while working in a care environment. The document provides answers to some of the common questions related to each of the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene. The target audience for this resource is anyone providing hand hygiene education.

The four moments include:

1. Moment 1: BEFORE first touching the patient/resident or their environment

2. Moment 2: BEFORE aseptic procedures

3. Moment 3: AFTER body fluid exposure risk

4. Moment 4: AFTER touching the patient/resident or their environment As part of the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene, an assessment should be done to determine what is considered patient/resident environment and what is considered the health care environment.

Public Health Ontario Four Moments of Hand Hygiene Information Sheet

Our team meets monthly to discuss quality improvement in the home. Our team has representatives from all departments as well as the Residents' Council and Family Council. Anyone is welcome to join if interested to see what is happening in the home or provide feedback for our team.

If you would like to review the minutes from the last quarter, they can be found on the Quality Improvement Board outside of the Oak Home Area.



If you are interested in attending a meeting or two, please email administrator.pines@muskoka.on.ca

Our Joint Health and Safety Committee is excited to celebrate Health and Safety Week with our team. We have some fun activities for staff with prizes as well as a staff appreciation BBQ on September 10th. You can watch us cooking for all our team members that day. Our Joint Health and Safety Team is comprised of 12 members including managers and staff. They are working daily to help keep the home safe for staff which in turn helps to keep it safe for the residents.

Think Safe….Work Safe….Be Safe!!

The Ministry of Health has provided an RSV vaccine program fact sheet. Please click on the link to take a look at the information. Ministry of Health RSV Vaccine Fact Sheet, 2024

The Pines Support Committee continues to work together in partnership with residents, their families, staff, and donors to ‘Optimize Life” for residents at the Pines. We are pleased to let residents and families know that we have provided funding for a new program called “Living Well”. This program is run by The Pines Social Worker, Andrea Groomes, and strives to identify residents in need of financial assistance with transportation, new essential aids, including walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids, foot care, hairdressing, clothing purchases, etc.…. We want families and residents to know this program is available for you to access should there be a financial need. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Andrea for guidance and discussion regarding program eligibility and the request consideration process. You may contact Andrea directly at The Pines by emailing Andrea.groomes@muskoka.on.ca

We are pleased to report that we were able to purchase new umbrellas, tables, raised planters, water features, and flowers for the renovated courtyards. We hope that residents and families have been enjoying the new spaces. We also have recently funded more musical entertainment for The Pines in the coming months for all to enjoy!

The Pines Support Committee is happy to announce we are hosting a Staff Appreciation Day on Wednesday, October 9th. Our residents and families are so lucky to have such fantastic staff who care! We would like to say thank you to them by offering meals and treats that day for all shifts. A reminder closer to the day will be sent to staff and posters placed around the home!! Thank you to the Pines Staff for everything you do!!

The Pines Support Committee has BIG plans for 2025 and we need members to help us turn those plans into reality. We meet four times a year and are very welcoming! Please contact our chairperson Lorna Ethier at lornaethier@gmail.com if you would like more information.

As always we want you to know the Pines Support Committee is here for you so please do not hesitate to reach out if you have ideas or know a resident who needs support.

All the best from The Pines Support Committee Members

The attached document has nine (9) helpful recourses for caregivers because your mental health matters. Click on the link below to review the document with links to helpful resources.

9 Helpful Resources for Caregivers from CCSMH