This past December late in the evening, family members waited in the cold at the front door of the Pines care home in 亚洲天堂 Lake.  Nobody answered the doorbell.

It turns out that the front door buzzer had malfunctioned.  Not having a cell phone, they had to travel back to town to find a phone to call the front desk to get someone to open the door.

It seems that the front door pager system had succumbed to the same technological fate as the bed-side pagers (as reported by the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 on Dec. 12, 2012).  After a recent inquiry by the Lakes District 亚洲天堂, a temporary doorbell system was installed.

Things are back to normal at the Pines, unless you are a resident there who used to enjoy free in-room cable.

The Pines has implemented a mid-2012 policy change implemented by the Ministry of Health regarding in-room cable service.

According to Eryn Collins, Northern Health communications officer, this policy change leaves the Pines with four common-area cable televisions.  Individual residents may arrange for in-room service at an additional cost.  The Pines formerly covered the cost of in-room service.

Northern Health is currently in the process of tendering bids for a new bed-side pager system at the Pines which allows residents and staff to call for help.  The existing technology is too old to be maintained or repaired.

Currently, the Pines has increased staffing during peak demand periods to ensure that no residents are overlooked while the pager system is down.  Walkie-talkies have also been distributed to residents who are able to use them.