DINING LIFESTYLES

The dining programs in a senior care community cater to your special diets.  Residents in a care facility are tempted by a variety of appealing menus planned to satisfy a wide range of food tastes and preferences.  Each meal should offer special daily selections to please ones palate, at the same time, supplying a balance for essential nutrition and optimal health. A high emphasis is placed on meals and food service. Under the management of a responsible Administrator the dietary staff deliver the best meals for resident enjoyment.

Remember comfort food is the kind of food that seniors enjoy the most. Avoid sauces, rich and fried foods are usually not popular. Seniors unlike young people today,  enjoy broth based soups, fresh salads, tempting entrees, nourishing fruits and vegetables, Sid Goldstein a resident at Presidential Place in Hollywood, Florida said, " I like to see my food, not all covered up" "fancy deserts and other ethnic specialties I would trade for a bowl of Ice-Cream and chocolate chip cookies".  In addition to daily menu specials, standard fixed choices should be available at meal time.

Simple Decorating Tips: Make the dining room a gracious and attractive place for your residents to dine in the company of friends.  A fresh coat of paint might all be that your dining room requires. Use a soft neutral color, add adhesive border paper half way up the wall & paint the lower wall using an accent color. To ensure durability use ½ inch wood molding strip at either side of the border paper to prevent rips.  On each table buy fresh daisy's, cut the stem almost to the top of the neck of the flower and place in a small square glass candle holder. Spread colorful marbles about the bottom of the glass candle holder and fill with cold water. Place on each table, should last about a week. Away from the kitchen, use artificial trees/plants to section off a family style dining table seating 6 – 8 guests. Set table as if it will host a holiday dinner; using pressed linen, China, silverware, stemware to promote a private dining atmosphere” excellent for marketing purposes.

Your private dining room is available to host your own dinner parties or for new residents to invite 4 friends & host lunch use the opportunity to promote your facility. The Private Dining Room is a great for hosting Board Meetings for professional organizations like Florida Assisted Living Coalition. In your brochure use a similar quote "I love the fact that I am given choices at each meal.  Sometimes a home cooking is appealing & sometimes I just want a sandwich.  It's nice to be able to choose"  -- Resident

 Chef  Lucciano

Post Menu on Erase Board & Easel at entrance to  dining room. Spell Check & Print Clearly. This is great for tours to see “what’s cooking” & for residents to get a preview of the menu for that day. If you are not serving what is on your menu, make sure the printed menu approved by your dietician reflects the change in the daily menu. Always check to ensure this protocol is followed, it is a deficiency if a survey finds that you did not change the menu accordingly.