There’s far more that goes into creating a positive dining room experience for your aged care residents than just a high-quality diet or nutritional support. Your residents will spend so much time each day sitting in their dining area that it becomes a permanent fixture of their day-to-day as well as a major hub for their social lives. Depending on how extensive the catering solution is, they could be spending up to six meals a day around the dining table! With residents spending so much time in a single room, it’s important that your aged care catering provider invests in making this the best dining experience possible for the sake of their wellbeing.
An inviting atmosphere
Just as a restaurateur styles their restaurant to provide a welcoming atmosphere for their guests, your aged care catering provider needs to make sure that your dining area is somewhere inviting that your residents actively want to be. Carefully consider the style and atmosphere of your dining area and how it’s likely to be perceived; after all, residents are entering the facility after decades in their own homes, and it’s important that your facility can feel just as welcoming.
Both the styling and service delivery of your dining area are important factors for its atmosphere. Studies have shown that utilitarian cafeteria servings were uninspiring and unappealing to residents, while open-access buffet-style serveries increased resident engagement and enjoyment – all while serving as a social focal point (Lowndes et al, 2015).
Sights, sounds, and smells
Beyond interior design, controlling the flow of sounds and aroma can act as part of the culinary experience as well. Studies have shown that residents who have their food prepared in an attached area where they can hear and smell it being prepared are more likely to be appetised and to finish their meals than those who have had their food prepared in a detached kitchen and had it brought to them (Agarwal et al, 2016). With this in mind, you can plan your kitchen to best benefit your residents; a layout that exposes the sights, sounds, and smells of the chefs at work can go a long way to making your food and your mealtimes far more appealing to residents.
A change is as good as a holiday
You may also wish to consider if there’s a place for a quality residential engagement program in your dining area. Even if your food is expertly prepared with love and attention, dining from the same menu in the same location day in and day out will inevitably begin to grow tiring for your residents. As aged care residents are substantially more at risk from developing mental illnesses than other age groups as a result of isolation and mental decline, taking steps to break up the mundane is critical (Kiely et al, 2019).
A well-implemented engagement program can help alleviate these concerns. Residents who frequently partake in programs designed to enrich their lives and engage in new experiences are somewhat less at risk of developing age-related mental health conditions (Neves et al, 2019), and a Resident Engagement program is an easy first step on that road. Cater Care’s Major Themes Program can bring your residents to the shores of Fiji or the bustling streets of New York – complete with delicious menus from far-off locales – all without leaving the comfort of your facility. Bringing in an Engagement Program offers an exciting change of pace for residents and staffers and a perfect opportunity for some fresh social engagement.
Good food, good wine, good company
Undoubtedly the most important part of your residents’ dining experience is that of their social experience.Your dining area is an area of the residential facility that your residents are likely to spend more time in than anywhere else. As such, the dining area is going to become the de facto social hub of your facility. With this in mind, you should carefully consider your facility’s dining area design to make it as inviting and social as possible.
Do you plan to focus on creating an intimate, personal atmosphere to encourage one-on-one interactions between residents and diners? Then your dining area planning and layout ought to focus primarily on smaller grouped tables with mood lighting and an intimate layout.
Would you prefer to create a lively, large-scale dining experience? Then large group tables with bright lighting and mutual accessibility is the order of the day.
Wrapping up the dinner service
There’s more than just food that goes into creating the best possible dining experience for your residents. The atmosphere, sounds, smells, engagement, and social opportunities all play vital roles in helping your dining hall feel like the centre of a home. Whether you’re envisioning five star luxury or homely bistro dining, aged care catering companies are always on hand to help see your dream for your residents realised.
To take the first steps towards building your dream catering solution, reach out to Jonathan for a no-obligations consultation about your facility’s aged care catering.
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Jonathan Storer
Client Development Manager – Cater Care
Ph: 0424 190 566
jonathan.storer@catercare.com.au
