The Pines Resident & Family Portal

Browse our collection of books and resources designed to support residents, families, and persons of importance. Feel free to borrow a resource and return it when you're finished. Below is a very supportive novel available to borrow.

The health, comfort, and safety of our residents remain our top priority during periods of extreme heat. During the heat warnings, our team takes additional precautions to help keep residents safe and comfortable.

What We Are Doing

• Encouraging residents to spend time in air conditioning whenever possible.
• Offering fluids frequently throughout the day, not just at meal times, to support hydration.
• Providing water, juice, and other approved beverages regularly, while following individual care plans and any prescribed fluid restrictions.
• Keeping resident rooms and common areas as cool and comfortable as possible.
• Encouraging lightweight, comfortable clothing.
• Limiting outdoor activities and exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.

Monitoring Resident Well-Being

Our staff are closely monitoring residents for signs of heat-related illness, including:

• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness or weakness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Increased confusion or changes in behaviour
• Fatigue or lethargy

Extra attention is being given to residents who may be at greater risk, including those who:

• Have chronic medical conditions
• Take medications that can affect hydration or body temperature regulation
• Live with cognitive impairment and may not recognize or communicate symptoms
• Require assistance with fluid intake

How Families Can Help

If you are visiting during the heat warning, please encourage your loved one to drink fluids (if permitted within their care plan) and spend time in cooler indoor areas. We also encourage lightweight clothing and limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours.

Thank you for being so supportive as we work together to keep our residents safe and comfortable throughout the warm weather.

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area has declared a Respiratory Outbreak on June 22nd, 2026. Currently, two (2) residents remain symptomatic, experiencing coughing, congestion, and/or a runny nose and are continuing isolation. Families have been notified, and test results are pending from Public Health.

Infection Control Measures

• Surgical Masks to be worn on Spruce Home Area
• Follow the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene
• Assist residents with hand hygiene before meals and throughout the day
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly: put on before entering and remove before exiting isolation rooms
• Spruce Residents must remain in their home area
• If they insist on leaving, assist with a mask or visor and encourage outdoor visits
• IPAC Surveillance Screener EVERY SHIFT on Spruce
• Immediate isolation for any new symptoms
• Cohort staff when possible;
• Cohort residents; small-group activities only for unaffected residents; isolated residents receive 1:1 activities
• Twice-daily high‑touch cleaning with 1‑minute dwell time
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits with coaching
• No General Visitors to Spruce Home Area; maximum 2 essential caregivers at a time

Please ensure all IPAC practices are followed to protect residents, staff, essential caregivers, and visitors.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

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

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area has declared a Respiratory Outbreak on June 22nd, 2026. Currently, five (5) residents remain symptomatic, experiencing coughing, congestion, and/or a runny nose and are continuing isolation. Families have been notified, and test results are pending from Public Health.

Infection Control Measures

• Surgical Masks to be worn on Spruce Home Area
• Follow the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene
• Assist residents with hand hygiene before meals and throughout the day
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly: put on before entering and remove before exiting isolation rooms
• Spruce Residents must remain in their home area
• If they insist on leaving, assist with a mask or visor and encourage outdoor visits
• IPAC Surveillance Screener EVERY SHIFT on Spruce
• Immediate isolation for any new symptoms
• Cohort staff when possible;
• Cohort residents; small-group activities only for unaffected residents; isolated residents receive 1:1 activities
• Twice-daily high‑touch cleaning with 1‑minute dwell time
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits with coaching
• No General Visitors to Spruce Home Area; maximum 2 essential caregivers at a time

Please ensure all IPAC practices are followed to protect residents, staff, essential caregivers, and visitors.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

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

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area has declared a Respiratory Outbreak on June 22nd, 2026. Currently, five (5) residents remain symptomatic, experiencing coughing, congestion, and/or a runny nose and are continuing isolation. Families have been notified, and test results are pending from Public Health.

Infection Control Measures

• Surgical Masks to be worn on Spruce Home Area
• Follow the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene
• Assist residents with hand hygiene before meals and throughout the day
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly: put on before entering and remove before exiting isolation rooms
• Spruce Residents must remain in their home area
• If they insist on leaving, assist with a mask or visor and encourage outdoor visits
• IPAC Surveillance Screener EVERY SHIFT on Spruce
• Immediate isolation for any new symptoms
• Cohort staff when possible;
• Cohort residents; small-group activities only for unaffected residents; isolated residents receive 1:1 activities
• Twice-daily high‑touch cleaning with 1‑minute dwell time
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits with coaching
• No General Visitors to Spruce Home Area; maximum 2 essential caregivers at a time

Please ensure all IPAC practices are followed to protect residents, staff, essential caregivers, and visitors.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

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

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area has declared a Respiratory Outbreak on June 22nd, 2026. Currently, four (4) residents remain symptomatic, experiencing coughing, congestion, and/or a runny nose and are continuing isolation. Families have been notified, and test results are pending from Public Health.

Infection Control Measures

• Surgical Masks to be worn on Spruce Home Area
• Follow the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene
• Assist residents with hand hygiene before meals and throughout the day
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly: put on before entering and remove before exiting isolation rooms
• Spruce Residents must remain in their home area
• If they insist on leaving, assist with a mask or visor and encourage outdoor visits
• IPAC Surveillance Screener EVERY SHIFT on Spruce
• Immediate isolation for any new symptoms
• Cohort staff when possible;
• Cohort residents; small-group activities only for unaffected residents; isolated residents receive 1:1 activities
• Twice-daily high‑touch cleaning with 1‑minute dwell time
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits with coaching
• No General Visitors to Spruce Home Area; maximum 2 essential caregivers at a time

Please ensure all IPAC practices are followed to protect residents, staff, essential caregivers, and visitors.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

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

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area has declared a Respiratory Outbreak on June 22nd, 2026. Currently, four (4) residents remain symptomatic, experiencing coughing, congestion, and/or a runny nose and are continuing isolation. Families have been notified, and test results are pending from Public Health.

Infection Control Measures

• Surgical Masks to be worn on Spruce Home Area
• Follow the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene
• Assist residents with hand hygiene before meals and throughout the day
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly: put on before entering and remove before exiting isolation rooms
• Spruce Residents must remain in their home area
• If they insist on leaving, assist with a mask or visor and encourage outdoor visits
• IPAC Surveillance Screener EVERY SHIFT on Spruce
• Immediate isolation for any new symptoms
• Cohort staff when possible;
• Cohort residents; small-group activities only for unaffected residents; isolated residents receive 1:1 activities
• Twice-daily high‑touch cleaning with 1‑minute dwell time
• Increased hand hygiene and PPE audits with coaching
• No General Visitors to Spruce Home Area; maximum 2 essential caregivers at a time

Please ensure all IPAC practices are followed to protect residents, staff, essential caregivers, and visitors.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

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

Starting later this July, The Pines Long-Term Care Home will be introducing a new way for families and persons of importance to stay informed and connected with what is happening with their loved ones.

We are excited to launch Engage+ by Evoke Health, a secure and easy-to-use communication platform designed specifically for long-term care homes. This system will provide families with timely updates, important announcements, and a better way to stay involved in day-to-day life at The Pines.

What Engage+ Will Offer:

• Updates on home-wide events, programs, and activities
• Important notices and communications from the care team
• A centralized, secure space for information sharing
• Improved connection between families, persons of importance, and the home

Engage+ is designed to enhance transparency and make it easier for families to feel connected, informed, and reassured about the care and experiences of their loved ones.

More details on how to access and use Engage+ will be shared in the coming weeks. We look forward to bringing this new tool to our residents and families!

Please see the information sheet below for more information.

Engage+ Information Sheet

At The Pines Long-Term Care Home, we are committed to providing a safe, comfortable, and reliable environment for all residents. We would like to share an important update regarding our nurse call bell system.

Our current system has been in place for over 22 years and has served our home well. However, as technology evolves, we must continue to invest in modern systems that support high-quality care and communication.

We will soon begin upgrading our call bell system to a newer, more advanced version. Please be assured that there will be no disruption to resident care or to the nurse call system during this transition. Measures are in place to ensure that the system remains fully operational at all times throughout the upgrade process.

This improvement will help enhance response times, reliability, and overall efficiency, supporting both residents and staff in delivering and receiving care.

We understand that changes can sometimes raise questions, and we want to reassure residents, families, and staff that this process is being carefully planned and managed with safety as our top priority.

More information will be shared as we move forward, including timelines and what to expect during each phase of the upgrade.

Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work to improve our home for everyone.

Please contact Steve Files, Environmental Services Manager, if you have any questions or concerns. steve.files@muskoka.on.ca

Browse our collection of books and resources designed to support residents, families, and persons of importance. Feel free to borrow a resource and return it when you're finished. Below is a very supportive novel available to borrow.