Caption: Providence Point To-Go Containers Create Innovative Dining Delivery Program
Senior living residents are living a new life since the pandemic: They can’t dine and be with each other in their community dining rooms. They are eating alone in their independent homes or assisted living apartments. Learn more from culinary team members at Cura, who are doing more than just keeping seniors safe, healthy and well nourished. These dedicated team members are delivering hope and smiles at all of our communities. Cura shares some of their teams’ creative delivery stories!
Providence Point in Pittsburgh, PA, is currently offering home delivery featuring a full menu. More than 299 meals are delivered daily to independent, plus 144 to healthcare and personal care. The team decided to go the extra mile and added in word searches and crossword puzzles. Providence Point servers also had the idea of drawing pictures and messages on the takeout containers to show the residents that they are loved and missed!
At Phoebe Berks in Wernersville, PA, Cura’s team consists of high school student servers who also enjoy drawing pictures on take-out containers that they help to assemble for 1,100 meals delivered daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These caring young adults also grocery shop for up to 90 residents.
Resident response has been phenomenal! When the team at Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry Township, PA made its “Knock and Walk” 225 meal deliveries, residents messaged back by posting on their doors!
Cura dining team members at Lutheran Seniorlife at its Passavant community in Zelienople, PA, attach food puns to 500 food containers to spread a little cheer with resident meals. The staff came up with the puns and designs. The cards were signed by each dietary team member, then attached to 400 meals and delivered to the residents.
St. Catherine’s Village, a continuing care retirement community in Madison, Mississippi, delivers 350 meals to independent residents where they select from a full menu; 120 meals to assisted living where they have a choice of three hot entrees; and 150 to skilled nursing. In addition to residents, the team also serves St. Catherine’s employees up to 75 meals per day.
Something for the way home? Holy Redeemer Health System in Philadelphia makes take-out easy. Manor dining is the new retail venue for staff in the Manor to eliminate cross contamination.
Thinking about dinner already? At Laurel View Village in Davidsville, PA, the Cura team prepared personal pan pizzas complete with bread sticks and marina sauce. Pizza is delivered to residents in pizza boxes creating an authentic pizza delivery experience! A house-made apple dumpling with ice cream was a welcoming treat!
Peter Becker Community in Harleysville, PA, trains high school student workers to be “concierges.” They operate a call center seven days per week for cottage residents and staff members who wish to order from the to-go menu, as well as food items from the makeshift grocery store. Daily huddles are conducted with student workers to provide them with communications and sales skills including how to take orders and to let residents know what items are available in the grocery store. General Manager Josh Crandall is receiving a taste of his own dining program. “With a limited staff, I now live at the community. The experience gives me the opportunity to benchmark and make changes to the to-go dining and grocery program since I now have to rely on it!”
Independent residents at The Community at Rockhill in Sellersville, PA, are able to shop conveniently and safely at the community’s own Josey’s Store daily. Josey’s sells grocery and pantry supplies (including ice cream!) and will soon offer frozen meals. Social distancing is enforced with six-feet space markers secured “by the residents” on the floor to guide everyone in the hallway. Due to the pandemic, residents cannot purchase the supplies for their store. The Cura team, along with Sysco Philadelphia, are happy to facilitate the purchase and distribution of the supplies sold at Josey’s Store. Josey’s Store is a wonderful amenity managed by the residents… for the residents!
Cura residents at the Lutheran Community at Telford, PA enjoy hot meals delivered daily to their rooms featuring a choice of two soups, two entrees such as ham or barbecue chicken, baked sweet potato and tiramisu! Residents can also order fresh baked cookies, soft pretzels, ice cream sundaes, snack bags, cheddar popcorn and a slice of fresh baked pizza! To help with basic needs, Cura operates a small grocery store that fills orders daily for residents like milk, eggs, fresh vegetables and bottled beverages.
Communities like Carver Ridge Senior Living in Carver, MN, now offer mobile hydration – a refreshing door-to-door service that promotes wellness! Drinking enough water each day is crucial for many reasons: to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, deliver nutrients to cells and helps prevent infections!
And, everyone needs a “Happy Hour.” The Cura dining team made it happen at Urbana Place Senior Living in Urbana, OH, a member of Tealwood Senior Living. Mai Thais and tropical fruit tarts are delivered to resident apartments.
