The Pines Resident & Family Portal

Home is more than a place—it is a feeling. At The Pines, we are continually looking for ways to create warm, welcoming spaces where residents can connect, relax, reminisce, and enjoy meaningful moments throughout their day.

Over the past several months, our team has been focused on enhancing common areas throughout the home to support social engagement, personal interests, and overall well-being. These spaces offer residents opportunities to spend time with friends, revisit cherished memories, and participate in activities they enjoy.



A Space for Connection and Fun

Residents can gather around tables designed for games, cards, puzzles, and colouring activities. Whether it's a friendly game with neighbours or a quiet afternoon spent working on a puzzle, these spaces encourage social interaction while promoting cognitive stimulation and creativity.

Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane

A new addition to the space is our reminiscence area, complete with a record player and classic music. Music has a remarkable ability to spark memories, evoke emotions, and bring people together. Residents often enjoy listening to favourite songs from years gone by, sharing stories, and reconnecting with meaningful moments from their lives.

A Comfortable Place to Relax

For those who enjoy watching television, we have created cozy gathering spaces where residents can enjoy movies, sporting events, special programs, or favourite television shows with friends. These comfortable settings provide opportunities for companionship and conversation, making everyday moments more enjoyable.

Supporting Well-Being Through Environment

The spaces we create within our home play an important role in enhancing quality of life. Comfortable seating, engaging activities, familiar sights and sounds, and opportunities for social connection all contribute to a sense of belonging and purpose.

Residents have diverse interests, and we strive to provide options that reflect those interests. Some may prefer a lively game of cards, while others enjoy quiet colouring, listening to music, reading, or simply spending time with friends in a welcoming environment.

Looking Ahead

Creating meaningful spaces is an ongoing journey at The Pines. We continue to explore new ideas and welcome feedback from residents and families on ways we can make our home even more inviting and enjoyable.

These spaces are more than just rooms—they are places where friendships grow, memories are shared, laughter is heard, and residents can continue to engage in the activities that bring them joy.

At The Pines, we are proud to create environments that help residents feel truly at home. ❤️🏡

One of the highlights of each day at The Pines is mealtime. Whether it's a favourite entrée, a homemade soup, a special dessert, or a nourishing snack, a great deal of planning, care, and teamwork goes into every meal served. Behind every breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack is a dedicated Dietary Team committed to supporting residents' health, well-being, and enjoyment.

Meet the Dietary Team

🍳 Our Cooks

Our cooks are at the heart of meal preparation. They carefully prepare nutritious and appetizing meals while following specialized recipes, therapeutic diets, and food safety standards. Their skill and creativity help ensure that meals are not only nutritious but also enjoyable.

☕ Dietary Aides (Food Service Workers)

Dietary aides are often the friendly faces residents see every day in the dining room. They assist with meal service, help create a welcoming dining experience, accommodate individual preferences whenever possible, and ensure residents receive the correct meal, texture, and diet order.

🥗 Registered Dietitian

The Registered Dietitian plays a vital role in supporting residents' nutritional health. They assess nutritional needs, monitor weight and overall nutrition status, develop care plans, review therapeutic diets, and work closely with residents, families, physicians, and the dietary team to ensure residents receive the nutrition support they need.

📋 Food Service Supervisor

The Food Service Supervisor coordinates daily dietary operations, oversees ordering and deliveries, ensures compliance with provincial regulations through RAI-MDS assessments, and helps maintain the high standards expected in long-term care dining programs.

👥 Dietary Manager

The Dietary Manager provides overall leadership for the department, overseeing menu planning, quality improvement initiatives, budgeting, staffing, regulatory compliance, and resident satisfaction. They work closely with all members of the interdisciplinary care team to continuously enhance the dining experience.

More Than Just Meals

The Dietary Team's work extends far beyond preparing food. Their responsibilities include:

• Planning seasonal menus that meet provincial nutrition requirements
• Supporting residents requiring texture-modified diets
• Providing therapeutic diets for specific medical conditions
• Monitoring nutrition and hydration
• Offering nourishing snacks between meals
• Accommodating cultural, religious, and personal food preferences when possible
• Maintaining food safety and infection prevention standards
• Working with residents and families to address concerns and suggestions

Did You Know?

Ontario's Ministry of Long-Term Care provides funding through the Nutritional Support (formerly Raw Food) funding envelope to support meals and snacks for residents. As of April 1, 2026, the funding allocation is $13.71 per resident per day to provide meals, snacks, beverages, oral nutritional supplements, thickened products, specialized therapeutic foods, and other nutrition-related supplies.

This funding supports:

• Three meals daily
• Between-meal snacks
• Beverages
• Oral nutritional supplements
• Therapeutic and texture-modified foods
• Thickened fluids and specialty dietary products

Resident and Family Feedback Matters

The dining experience is an important part of quality of life in long-term care. We value resident and family feedback and encourage participation through Resident Council meetings, the Delightful Diners, surveys, comment opportunities, and conversations with team members. Your input helps us continue improving menus, service, and the overall dining experience.

Thank You to Our Dietary Team

Every day, our Dietary Team demonstrates professionalism, compassion, and dedication to ensuring residents receive nutritious meals in a welcoming environment. We thank our Cooks, Dietary Aides, Registered Dietitian, Food Service Supervisor, and Dietary Manager for the incredible work they do behind every meal.

Good nutrition is an essential part of quality care—and it all begins with a team committed to making every meal matter. 🍽️💚

Residents, families, and care partners are invited to attend an upcoming webinar hosted by the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils (OARC) and Family Councils Ontario (FCO) to learn more about how long-term care homes in Ontario are funded.

Presented by guest speakers from the Ministry of Long-Term Care, this session will explain funding in plain language, including:

• How long-term care funding is structured
• What the different funding envelopes cover
• How resident co-payments (accommodation charges) work
• How funding information may be shared with Residents’ Councils and Family Councils

Understanding how long-term care homes are funded can help residents and families ask informed questions and participate in meaningful discussions about care and services.

Webinar Details

📅 Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

🕑 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (ET)

💻 Location: Zoom (link provided upon registration)

Register here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QzLaAmcPTQ-p1HAwSN2QTQ#/registration

Please note that this webinar will not be recorded, so participants are encouraged to attend live.

Disclaimer: The Ministry of Long-Term Care does not endorse or sponsor specific learning and educational activities. Long-term care sector associations play an important role in supporting quality of life and quality of care in Ontario’s long-term care homes.

Families and residents may have recently received information regarding the Long-Term Care Home Accommodation Rate Changes effective July 1, 2026. The Ministry of Long-Term Care has issued a correction affecting a specific group of residents.

What Has Changed?

The monthly semi-private co-payment rate for residents who were admitted to newer beds between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 was incorrectly listed in a previous Ministry bulletin.

• Incorrect monthly rate: $2,465.76
• Correct monthly rate: $2,456.76

The daily rate remains unchanged and correct at $80.77 per day.

Who Is Affected?

This correction applies only to residents who were admitted to newer long-term care home beds on or after July 1, 2012, but before July 1, 2013, and who pay the semi-private accommodation co-payment rate.

What Is Being Done?

The Ministry has directed long-term care homes to:

• Update billing and information systems to reflect the correct monthly rate.
• Review accounts for affected residents.
• Reimburse residents who may have been charged the incorrect rate, or apply an adjustment to future billing as soon as possible.

Questions?

If you have questions regarding this accommodation rate correction, please contact the Ministry of Long-Term Care at:

Ltc.Info@ontario.ca

We appreciate your understanding and thank residents and families for their patience as this correction is implemented.

Bulletin to Residents of Long-Term Care Homes: Important News Regarding Long-Term Care Home Accommodations Charges

Respiratory Outbreak Update – Spruce Home Area

In collaboration with Public Health, the Spruce Home Area Respiratory Outbreak has been declared over as of July 5, 2026.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our residents, families, Persons of Importance, staff, and volunteers for their patience, cooperation, and support throughout the outbreak period. Your efforts helped us maintain a safe environment for everyone in our home.

As we return to normal operations, we kindly remind all visitors not to visit the home if you are feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms of illness. Please continue to perform hand hygiene upon entering and throughout your visit to help protect our residents and community.

Please reach out to Stephanie Albert, IPAC Lead, if you have any questions: 📧 stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca
📞 Ext. 4752

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)(External link)or ext. 4752

June 30th, we welcomed the Honourable Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, and MPP Graydon Smith, for a tour of The Pines Long-Term Care Home in Bracebridge.

The Pines has proudly cared for Muskoka residents since 1971, providing compassionate, family-focused long-term care in a warm and welcoming environment. Owned and operated by the District Municipality of Muskoka, The Pines is home to 160 residents and is committed to delivering high-quality care every day.

During their visit, Minister Kusendova-Bashta and MPP Smith heard the history behind 55 years of caring for the community while meeting residents who call The Pines home and the dedicated staff who make it all possible.

Learn more about The Pine Long-Term Care Home visit: https://bit.ly/4eQdGsH

#ThePines #LTCMuskoka #ThePinesLTC #Muskoka Town of Bracebridge

Resident safety is at the heart of everything we do at The Pines. We are pleased to share that we have recently installed EvacQSlide evacuation devices under each resident's mattress as part of our ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness and resident safety.

The EvacQSlide is a specialized evacuation system designed to assist staff in safely moving residents during an emergency situation, such as a fire or other event requiring evacuation.

The device allows residents to be transported more efficiently on stairways and through corridors when traditional evacuation methods may be challenging.

The installation of these devices enhances our emergency response capabilities by:

• Supporting the safe evacuation of residents with mobility challenges.
• Increasing staff preparedness during emergency situations.
• Improving our ability to respond quickly and effectively if an evacuation is required.
• Strengthening our overall emergency management program.

In addition to the installation of the EvacQSlides, staff receive training and participate in regular emergency drills to ensure they are confident and prepared to use this equipment if needed.

While we hope these devices are never required, this investment reflects our commitment to providing the safest possible environment for residents, families, staff, and visitors.

If you have any questions about our emergency preparedness measures, please feel free to speak with a member of our leadership team.

Maintaining mobility is an important part of healthy aging and plays a key role in enhancing quality of life for residents in long-term care. Mobility is more than just walking—it includes all movement that helps residents stay as active, independent, and engaged as possible.

At The Pines, our team works closely with residents to encourage safe movement throughout the day. Whether it is participating in exercise programs, walking to meals, taking part in recreational activities, or simply changing positions regularly, every movement matters.

Why Mobility Matters

Regular movement can help residents:

• Maintain strength, balance, and flexibility
• Support independence with daily activities
• Reduce the risk of falls and injury
• Improve circulation and overall physical health
• Enhance mood, confidence, and social engagement
• Promote better sleep and overall well-being

Even small amounts of activity can make a meaningful difference in a resident’s comfort and quality of life.

How Families Can Support Mobility

Families play an important role in encouraging and supporting mobility. During visits, consider:

• Taking a short walk with your loved one, if appropriate
• Participating in recreational or fitness activities together
• Encouraging them to attend programs and social events
• Celebrating mobility milestones and achievements
• Providing comfortable, properly fitting footwear and clothing that supports movement

Every resident has unique abilities and goals, and our care team develops individualized approaches that promote safe and meaningful activity.

Working Together

Our interdisciplinary team, including nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, recreation staff, and care partners, is committed to helping residents maintain the highest level of mobility possible. By working together with families, we can support residents in staying active, engaged, and independent for as long as possible.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to promote health, wellness, and quality of life for all residents at The Pines. Every step, stretch, and movement contributes to a healthier and more fulfilling day.

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.