Pine Meadow Celebrates 20 Years Of Community Care

Jul 11, 2013

The icing on the cake said it all - ”Pine Meadow - the Home of Caring Hands and Hearts”.

That motto was at the forefront of Pine Meadow Nursing Home's special 20th anniversary celebration, which took place at the home in Northbrook on July 7. Though inclement weather forced the celebration indoors, staff quickly prepared the dining area for the event and members of the Land O'Lakes Garden Club served residents and guests with home-made scones with lemon curd and strawberry jam, tea and fresh lemonade. Residents and guests also enjoyed live music courtesy of Ray and Friends.

Pine Meadow resident Barbara Ellsworth emceed the ceremony, in which 18 certificates of thanks were given out to various community groups, organizations, service clubs and individuals, each of whom have played an important role at Pine Meadow. Bonnie George, administrator at the home for the past five years, stressed that the home “is truly a community owned home that has a ton of community support and volunteers.” She added, “If we were to try to thank everyone, it would be nearly impossible.”

The home has 60 residents and over 70 staff, and the densely packed events board in the main foyer highlights the many regular weekly events, which include yoga, cards, bonfires, church services, birthday parties, numerous social events and club groups. A vision statement mounted on an entrance wall of the home states the staff's vision and speaks of the staff's dedication to providing “a unique and loving environment for those in need of specialized care, recognizing and nurturing the essence and integrity of the individual while striving to be on the leading edge of the evolving needs of those we care for with a commitment to continuous quality improvements ...”

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton, who received one of the 18 certificates of appreciation and who is the chair of the home's management committee, spoke about the concept of staying on the cutting edge. Clayton said the facility has continually improved over the years since it opened in 1993. It now has many updated services and amenities and that trend will continue this year with the home's slated upgrade from a "B" class to an "A" class home, a project that will cost $ 6.5 million. Clayton said that the construction upgrades would “bring more dignity to the residents by doing away with the four-bed wards, which will be replaced by double ward rooms.” The upgrades, which also include a new dining room, activity space and tub room, should take roughly 18 months and are to be completed by the summer of 2015. Mayor Clayton stated that the facility is an important one in the community since it “allows local people to stay close to their families while they receive long term care”.

Funds for the project are coming from reserves at Pine Meadow, private donations, and loans from the Ontario Infrastructure and Land Corporation. Bridge financing is being offered for the project in the interim by the Bank of Montreal.

Ernest Lapchinsky, who chairs the building committee at the home and who has been involved since 1999, said construction could begin any day now. “Right now we're just waiting day to day while Infrastructure Ontario reviews our information and all of the contracts are set to go. We're just waiting for the approval letter to arrive.”

He added, “The building committees and its various members have been very patient but diligent through the years in the hopes of getting this project going and finally it's going to happen.” He expressed his thanks to the many local organizations and community citizens involved in the project along with Extendicare Canada for their continuing support.

Following the presentations residents and guests were invited to share an anniversary cake baked specially for the occasion by Mrs. Kennedy.