There are several factors that compromise the ability and opportunity to not only provide nutritional information, but also an environment in which it can be applied. It is important to provide this knowledge and information to our constituents, but it is critical to create a program that fosters nutritional wellness.

The imposition of a dining service program on a community is significant. If you think about it, dining is the only service we provide to our constituents that imposes its schedule upon that constituency. All other resident and constituent services that are scheduled are, for the most part, driven by the need to be ready or available for the next meal. This imposition of schedule significantly reduces, if not eliminates, the residents’ ability to exercise choice. Further, nutritional wellness in compromised by the Independent Living meal program offered.

Traditionally, most CCRCs provide an Independent Living program based on one meal a day, or a fixed number of meals per month. While there are a number of confusing and arcane program options for missed meals, this model almost forces our residents to eat the main meal of the day and to eat as much as possible. This is the only way that the residents feel they are receiving value for their fees. Further evidence of this impractical program is the amount of Tupperware and wrapped food which is taken from the Independent Living dining room. Again, by having an extremely limited selection of program access and flexibility, we are fostering bad nutrition. I know residents who have said they have skipped meals in order to build up credits for guests.

A key component to providing the opportunity for nutritional education to be used by our residents is to provide flexibility and choice in how the residents use the dining service program. This choice model is demonstrated by a Choice Dining Program where the Independent Living residents have a monthly cash allotment equivalent to their currently allocated fees for dining, which they use for their meals. In this model, residents only purchase/pay for those menu items which they order. Consequently, residents can come to the main meal in the main dining room, have soup and salad, and pay for only those items, instead of losing the credit of a full meal. This program provides residents choice in how they wish to dine, as well as flexibility to do so throughout the course of a day. The outcome is improved nutrition, as well as spiritual, emotional, and personal satisfaction of a fully engaged resident.

The transition to such a model of program engagement requires a very thoughtful process because of the impact upon a wide variety of departmental functions. This service model should also translate to a Choice Dining Program for the residents of health care and Assisted Living. This is accomplished through more flexible service times and elimination of tray delivery systems in a more social model of dining. There is hard, demonstrated evidence that the benefits of this type of flexible, resident engaged choice dining program has significant impact on the nutritional and holistic wellness of the resident, reduced cost for the program, and a manageable ROI for any program modifications.

We can explore and further discuss the details of planning, developing, transitioning, and executing the ultimate nutritional program. The outcome is significantly enhancing and improving selection options, venue options, service environments, in a program where the residents eat when they are hungry, rather than when the food is delivered. That final fact is a core component to healthy nutrition and wellness.