Why a unique dining experience is important
There are several ways to initiate culture change in your facility, but few as influential as elevating your dining experience.

Providing memorable and engaging mealtimes is a high priority for successful senior care communities nationwide. Great dining experiences are proven to increase resident satisfaction, meaning your dining program has a big influence on your marketability - especially when it comes to attracting and retaining talented dining staff.

Staffing your kitchen and dining room with talented people is essential in providing exceptional dining experiences for your residents.

Hiring friendly, talented servers, hosts and chefs is a great way to create a fine dining atmosphere in your community, or to make residents feel more at home. And it's a great way to establish relationships and socialization throughout your community.

An upgraded dining program appeals to staff
Nationwide, senior care communities are taking notes from their local restaurants, and making three key upgrades to the dining experience: greater choice, better service and more inviting dining venues. In doing so, many communities are able to attract experienced staff from area restaurants.

To attract talented dining staff, you'll need to establish a professional environment where employees are encouraged to fine-tune their skills and advance their careers.

Be sure you provide the opportunity for staff to perform in a functional work environment where they have the proper cooking, dining and serving equipment they need to achieve the results they strive for.

Consider providing an in-depth introductory program, where new employees are coached and mentored - not just trained. Or provide an opportunity where they can learn different styles of dining such as banquet, short order or catering. These are opportunities many dining professionals can't experience while working in one commercial dining venue.

Senior care communities have another major advantage over local dining establishments - increased customer feedback.

"Our focus is on providing a dining experience for our residents that they enjoy daily. And the residents help us achieve this with their feedback. In an independent restaurant, you would be lucky if a guest offered a suggestion before they walked out to never return," says Michael Matson, Chef de Cuisine at Sedgebrook Retirement Community in Lincolnshire, Ill.

Customer satisfaction and approval is important to most dining professionals. They'll enjoy hearing what residents like and dislike, and will use this feedback to create new meals or improve recipes.

And both your residents and staff will enjoy interacting with one another. Residents will feel like they are an important part of your community when they have greater control and choice over what they eat, expanding their nutritional status and dining enjoyment.

By reinventing your dining experience, you've already paved a path to culture change, improved resident and staff perception, and built a strong marketing concept for your community.

Setting yourself apart in a competitive market
Your unique dining program can span as far as your community's creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, and function as a powerful marketing tool.

Setting your community apart from your competitors can be difficult considering the many options now available in senior care. And as the nation's largest generation continues to age, it will be more important than ever that you gain a competitive edge.

As the largest generation continues to enter senior care, it will be critical you retool, refocus, and in some cases, restructure your community to attract new residents by meeting the unique needs and expectations of the baby boomers.

Revamping your dining program can be an intimidating endeavor - one that requires research, communication, and most importantly: dedication. Direct Supply understands the latest in dining trends and restructuring dining programs, and can make the process easier for you. Call Direct Supply at 1-800-634-7328 for more information on upgrading your dining experience.

Direct Supply Products that can help you reinvent the dining experience in your community

The Duke Heritage Steam Table
Is a great way to offer appetizing buffet dining with ease. It features 300 series stainless steel for lasting durability and low maintenance. Optional sneeze guard and acrylic canopy cut the time it takes to keep things clean. The Heritage Table is a versatile option for implementing buffet style dining in your community andis available in both hot and cold models.

Concentrix Dinnerware by Tuxton
Is available in seven attractive colors that are perfect for eldercare. Dark and Contrasting colors have been shown to stimulate Alzheimer's residents' appetites, as they can see the plated food better than on normal white plates. By providing attractive dinnerware and heavier flatware, your community can provide the elegant, classy dining experience your residents desire. Add additional touches with table linens, condiment servers and artwork.

Article Submitted By: Shellee Roloff, Foodservice Segment Manager, Direct Supply, Inc.