The Pines Resident & Family Portal

In collaboration with Public Health, a COVID outbreak has been declared in the Birch Home area. Currently, four (4) residents have tested positive. Family members of those affected residents as aware. No General Visitors at this time to Birch Home Area; essential caregiver at a maximum of two (2) at a time.

We will send updates regularly as we work through this most recent outbreak.

Measures at this time include:

• N95 Masks for all on Birch with removal upon exit. Please change into a clean surgical mask when leaving the unit.
• Eye Protection for all on Birch at all times. Please disinfect when leaving the unit.
• On-unit activities for Birch residents only
• twice daily symptom screening for residents
• Prompt isolation of any symptomatic residents
• Staff Cohorting where possible
• Social distancing where possible
• Resident hand hygiene before meals and snacks and whenever possible
• Enhanced Environmental Cleaning on Birch and in shared spaces in the home

If you have any questions, please connect with Melissa Muir-Clark at ext. 4752

Our Team is currently working on plans to address the feedback from the survey results above. Our activities team has been meeting regularly to make a plan to ensure that you are meeting the needs of residents related to activities. We are connecting with our physicians to ensure a meaningful visit occurs with residents. We continue to improve our Quality Improvement Committee to ensure that we hear from residents about what they want and need. We are looking at technology to improve communication when in the home for residents, family members, and staff. We are looking at seating plans in the dining rooms to ensure that residents can make meaningful connections with tablemates.

We appreciate the feedback that we received on the survey results. Thank you to those that took the time to complete it.

Our Leadership Team is always open to hearing your concerns or feedback. We continue to strive for quality improvement and we can't do that without hearing from you and your loved ones.

Contact Information for Leadership Team & External Partners

Please know that our team follows the Whistleblower policy attached below. We appreciate any feedback that you might have.

Whistleblower Policy

Complaint and Customer Service Policy

In collaboration with Public Health, the Whole Home Enteric Outbreak has been declared over as of May 1, 2023. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this most recent outbreak.

The outbreak remains Whole Home as there are Birch, Maple, and Cedar cases. Birch continues with one (1) resident, Maple with two (2) residents, and Cedar with one (1) resident with enteric symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Family members of those residents affected have been updated. Visiting continues to be restricted to the Whole Home again to essential caregivers only, a maximum of two (2) at a time.

Infection Control Measures in the Home at this time:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection practices on affected units are a priority
• Increased hand hygiene at all times, for all visitors, staff, and resident
• Increased auditing for Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment usage
• IPAC Enteric Assessment once daily on all affected units
• Continue passive screening for all staff and essential caregivers **If you experience ANY symptoms gastrointestinal or respiratory, please do not enter the home.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Muir-Clark, IPAC Lead. melissa.muir-clark@muskoka.on.ca

The outbreak remains Whole Home as there are Birch, Maple, and Cedar cases. Birch continues with one (1) resident, Maple with one (1) resident, and Cedar with two (2) residents with enteric symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Family members of those residents affected have been updated. Visiting continues to be restricted to the Whole Home again to essential caregivers only, a maximum of two (2) at a time.

Infection Control Measures in the Home at this time:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection practices on affected units are a priority
• Increased hand hygiene at all times, for all visitors, staff, and resident
• Increased auditing for Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment usage
• IPAC Enteric Assessment once daily on all affected units
• Continue passive screening for all staff and essential caregivers **If you experience ANY symptoms gastrointestinal or respiratory, please do not enter the home.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Muir-Clark, IPAC Lead. melissa.muir-clark@muskoka.on.ca

The outbreak remains Whole Home as there are Birch, Maple, and Cedar cases. Birch continues with one (1) resident, Maple with one (1) resident, and Cedar with two (2) residents with enteric symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Family members of those residents affected have been updated. Visiting continues to be restricted to the Whole Home again to essential caregivers only, a maximum of two (2) at a time.

Infection Control Measures in the Home at this time:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection practices on affected units are a priority
• Increased hand hygiene at all times, for all visitors, staff, and resident
• Increased auditing for Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment usage
• IPAC Enteric Assessment once daily on all affected units
• Continue passive screening for all staff and essential caregivers **If you experience ANY symptoms gastrointestinal or respiratory, please do not enter the home.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Muir-Clark, IPAC Lead. melissa.muir-clark@muskoka.on.ca

The Pines team is excited to announce that Andrea Groomes will be joining our team in our new role as Social Worker. Andrea will join our team as of May 15^th and will report to myself. Her email address will be andrea.groomes@muskoka.on.ca and her extension will be established soon.

Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Lakehead University and has continued to expand her knowledge by taking supportive courses such as Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD in Veterans and Military Personnel, Integrating the Family into Behavioural Modification Strategies following Traumatic Brain Injury, Reliving Pain, Restoring Function and Renewing Hope and Music Based Interventions for Trauma Work, to name a few. Her professional development experiences have solidified her knowledge and techniques including a range of specialized evidence-based therapeutic interventions that our senior’s population requires to improve and maintain their mental health and wellbeing.

Andrea’s clinical experience include supporting children, youth, adults and seniors in behavioural, cognitive, psycho-social and intellectual needs. Using interpersonal skills that cultivate strong therapeutic relationships evidenced to improve therapeutic outcomes. She provided psychosocial support to clients who have experience trauma, brain and spinal cord injuries, physical injuries, chronic pain and the emotional adjustments that follows while implementing individualized treatment plans to support her clients.

Please join us in welcoming Andrea to the Home. We are excited to have her join our team!

Kimberly Sander
Director of Care