The Pines Resident & Family Portal

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

The outbreak remains Whole Home as there are Birch, Maple, and Cedar cases. Birch continues with four (4) residents, 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

In consultation with Public Health, the outbreak has been upgraded to Whole Home again as there are cases in Birch, Maple, and Cedar. Birch continues with four (4) residents, 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 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

In consultation with Public Health, the outbreak has been rescinded for Maple, Cedar, and Spruce home areas. Birch continues with four (4) residents with enteric symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Oak currently has no resident cases but is being closely monitored. Family members of those residents affected have been updated. Visiting continues to be restricted on Oak and Birch to essential caregivers only, a maximum of two (2) at a time.

The Whole Home remains in an Enteric Outbreak; symptoms consist of nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. There are four (4) residents in Birch and one (1) in each Maple and Cedar Home areas.

Family members of those affected residents have been notified. We will continue to provide updates as we work through the outbreak.

No General Visitors to the Cedar Home Area at this time. Essential Caregivers may visit a maximum of two (2) at a time.

Enhanced Infection Control Measures within the home include:

· Increased hand hygiene for staff and residents prior to meals

· Increased cleaning on affected units by housekeeping

· Increased PPE audits and hand hygiene audits

· Staff cohorting where possible

· Residents to avoid large group activities.



Please reach out to Melissa Muir-Clark (IPAC Lead) if you have any questions. Ext. 4752

Thank you to those who could attend the meeting on Wednesday evening. Below is a recording of the meeting if you wish to watch it. We hope to see you next month!

April 2023 Family Meeting Hosted by Family Council Recording

Passcode: Ah=%T&Y7

Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit Immunization Team

The Team will provide a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic at the home for all eligible residents on May 9, 2023. Please watch for a call from the home to gain consent for the vaccination for your loved one.

The next meeting is April 19, 2023

Time: 6:30- 8:00 pm

You are welcome to attend the meeting in person in the Fran Coleman Room at the Pines or

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89455264812?pwd=OXdVYnNodUJWSDZnWXlWM3huS1RMZz09

Meeting ID: 894 5526 4812

Passcode: 506904

Please see the attached agenda and contact Jill Gaston, Chair of the Family Council if you have any questions.

Updated Family Council Agenda April 2023

The Ministry of Long-Term Care announced changes in Ontario Regulation 246/22 under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 which came into effect on April 11, 2023.

The changes relate to the following:

• The way residents safely receive medications.
• Ensuring that residents live comfortably in their home.
• Qualification requirements for some staff positions.

Click on the link below to review the updates:

Amendments to Regulations