When kitchen renovations threaten to disrupt aged care food services, Cater Care steps in with practical, tailored solutions that keep things running. Recently, we managed a one-off temporary kitchen setup and operation for an aged care facility in Victoria as they underwent a major kitchen flooring refurbishment. Here’s how we ensured consistent, high-quality meals throughout the period, ensuring residents were fed well and didn’t even notice the change!
“They wanted to replicate their existing food model rather than relying on reheated meals,” noted Bryce Williams, our Urban Chief Operating Officer. “This required a tailored approach to ensure freshly prepared food, even in a temporary setup.”
Setting up a temporary kitchen for aged care facilities
Effective planning for temporary kitchens is crucial. We began by collaborating with the facility’s team to understand their unique needs and to map out the logistics.
From there, we set up the temporary kitchen in the facility car park with a covered walkway leading to the main building, and worked with the facility’s regular suppliers to further ensure continuity in both service and food quality.
As the facility’s head chef was on leave during the renovation, we brought in one of our own chefs to maintain consistency—a challenge in itself, given the need for staff to adapt to working with someone new.
Maintaining high standards in aged care food service
Throughout the refurbishment, we kept a rotation of on-site operations managers to keep a close eye on the process, meeting regularly with the client to gather feedback and address any concerns. By carefully managing shifts and maintaining open communication, we ensured residents received the same level of aged care food quality they expected, even amid the temporary adjustments.
Overcoming challenges with innovative solutions
Working in a tight-knit urban environment meant finding a safe and accessible spot for the temporary kitchen—a logistical puzzle when considering the only space available was in the car park. But setting up a kitchen in a car park isn’t easy. It involved securing essential utilities connections and creating a safe, covered route for the teams transporting meals from the temporary kitchen to residents in the main building. We also adjusted the meals and delivery processes to account for the longer distance, so meals still arrived hot and ready to enjoy.
For example, while we tried to keep the menus the same for the residents as their usual, the longer food transportation time meant food items like spinach wouldn’t arrive in the top condition we’d want it to. A few minor tweaks to the menus ensured all foods would arrive to a high standard.
Aged care food service solutions for uninterrupted quality
Kitchen refurbishments can take unexpected turns, and our experience has taught us to plan flexibly to accommodate unforeseen delays. In the recent project, the initial month-long renovation plans extended to two months. We’ve been in this business for a while, and so always work into our plans to anticipate potential setbacks, and by doing so we set up a versatile temporary kitchen, focused on providing fresh, nutritious meals that matched residents’ expectations despite the challenges.
Supporting clients across diverse sectors
This project showcases our skills in delivering quality aged care food service, regardless of the circumstances. From aged care to hospitals and remote sites, Cater Care’s expertise in managing temporary setups allows clients to continue their daily operations without disruption. As Bryce Williams put it, “This project showcased our team’s ability to solve complicated problems and deliver consistent results under challenging circumstances.”
At Cater Care, we pride ourselves on being solution providers, ready to keep food service running smoothly during any transition. If a solutions-oriented partner sounds like the perfect business match for you, reach out to Jonathan below for a chat.
