Sensations – Dining
Some of the most exciting times happen three times a day at Dodge Park Rest Home and Oasis at Dodge Park. That’s when residents sit down in the “Sensations” dining room to enjoy healthy, delicious meals made from scratch complete with friendly table side service, sparkling china, and linen tablecloths and napkins. Our Chefs prepare daily menus filled with international cuisines and artistically prepared meals to suit every palate. Using the freshest ingredients available, our chefs create mouthwatering appetizers, entrees and desserts that keep our residents taste buds tingling. You’ll also love the selections during themed parties and other special events.
You don’t need to be a culinary expert to notice the world of dining has been rapidly changing over the past few years. People are drinking green juices, monitoring things like trans fats, and learning how to pronounce words like ‘quinoa.’ Indeed, Americans are manipulating their diets in new ways, and the impact can be felt in restaurants and grocery aisles across the country.
The dining programs at Dodge Park Rest Home and Oasis at Dodge Park are adapting to the trends. Our communities aim to replicate the experience of eating-out or staying at a resort– this strategy can be a very helpful way to ease a new resident’s transition. Residents want to enjoy the comforts of home, or be reminded of their favorite restaurants.
The meal program at our communities is under the supervision of a license dietitian and designed to encourage balance within each meal, and to align with the new nutritional value system that has helped introduce new foods, textures, and flavors to the our residents palette.
Food service programs have long been a point of emphasis for both established and fledgling facilities. The reason for this is simple–resident satisfaction surveys clearly outline a correlation between favorable dining programs and overall resident contentment. Recent studies, including those done by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, have shown that “meals and activities are the daily focus of residents”, and that “food services, food/meals, and the mealtime/dining experience consistently influence resident satisfaction with facilities and quality of life.” Meals have a normalizing effect in long-term care. Beyond simple bodily sustenance, the dining room is a meeting place, a daily comfort, a place where communities are formed and strengthened.
The uniqueness of the meal program at our communities is that we focus on table service, which not only replicates the restaurant experience, but makes dining more convenient for residents with limited mobility and promotes a true dining experience (as opposed to a cafeteria format or tray format at other facilities).
Another big advantage of our community’s meal program is the cuisine itself. With today’s ever-growing focus on health, our directors are reinvesting in the food programs and leaving largely processed food behind in favor of natural, healthier ingredients. Between our nursing and dietary staff we are trying very hard to capture all food allergies and dietary concerns as comprehensively as possible.
Our dietary department managers are regularly stress the importance of leafy, green vegetables and unprocessed whole grains. These foods are rich in mineral content and fiber–things especially important for seniors, many of whom are dealing with diabetes, histories of heart complications, and high blood pressure. Current food trends showcase different forms of protein, particularly beneficial for the frail or non-ambulatory. It may be easier for the elderly to fight osteoporosis with beans, nuts, chickpeas, and lentils rather than exclusively consuming animal protein. There is now better understanding of lean protein sources and low-fat dairy products. We are very proud also to introducing foods rich in antioxidants–blueberries, red grapes, kale, and sweet potatoes–that carry the added benefit of Vitamins A & C, calcium, and omega-3s.
This may all sound scientific, but the translation to the plate is simple–new menus, fresh textures, and bold flavors. Our residents value taste and menu variety, and their homes are approaching mealtimes with thoughtfulness and creativity.
Our communities’ unique approach enables our team members to create memorable, restaurant-style dining experiences for our residents through an unwavering commitment to fresh ingredients and service excellence. These two elements guide the development of a strategic partnership that improves clinical outcomes, differentiates your brand, and enhances the lives of your residents.
What makes Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park meal time so unique is our fundamental approach to food and dining management services, or what we call “The Dodge Park Way”. Comprised of our vision, mission and values, The Dodge Park Way defines who we are and guides the actions of our Team Members. We are driven by the challenges of our dining residents and their family members and continue to develop our meal time experience to exceed their needs. Authenticity and creativity is at our core. It’s a powerful part of our culture that strengthens our team and benefits our residents and employees each and every day.
