Cura is proud to announce a new partnership with Westerwood Senior Living, a 356-bed premier nonprofit Life Care community, on the northeast side of Columbus, Ohio.
Cura serves independent, assisted, memory, short-term, and long-term care residents. “The transition is going well. This is a big operation with many opportunities, and dining services are very essential to the success of our operation. It is important to draw from each organization’s strengths and talents for the success of the overall organization. Cura has been a true partner from communication, to problem-solving, to sharing ideas. We are excited to travel this journey together,” says Lisa Burkhart, LNHA, Executive Director.
Prior to selecting Cura, Westerwood was a self-operated continuing-care retirement community. Cura’s culinary resources, training and sustainability programs, resonated in the selection process. According to Sarah Duffin, district manager, CDM, CFPP. “From our culinary expertise to our Waste Nothing sustainability program, our goal is to elevate the dining experience with trend-forward menus, programs, and innovation by our talented chefs for residents and staff. Westerwood clients also appreciated our ability to be resourceful through creative purchasing practices and repurposing food waste into exciting new recipes without sacrificing health and taste.”
Standardizing the quality and delivery of food will be enhanced with the support of satellite kitchens throughout the 40-acre campus. “By following Cura’s culinary gold standards, we will enhance the quality and nutrition of food supported by a full-time dietitian. Our gold standards also create a culture of consistency through purchasing, preparation, and delivery. Continuing education and training of back-and front-of-the-house team members will help to ensure standards are met including the preparation of food from scratch, using fresh ingredients, including seasonal fresh vegetables offered daily,” adds Ms. Duffin.
Plans to enhance retail venues with a coffee house and repurposing space to offer a live chef action station will complement “entertainment” with food. “This will create an exciting format to engage residents while educating them on how to eat healthier,” says Ms. Duffin.
Cura is committed to developing a new menu foundation specifically for assisted living and rehabilitation. Cura will present this new menu of fresh and hot food, plated in front of the residents and delivered by the SuzyQ Cart system, a proven and successful solution in providing “resident-focused” meals.
Connections memory support dining will also support those individuals suffering from dementia and/or cognitive issues. For both social and caloric nourishment, Cura offers specific methodologies to help foodservice personnel meet mealtime challenges including tools such as conversation cards (featuring images that residents can reconnect with, along with questions for personnel to encourage meaningful conversations); walking foods (nutritional finger food program easy to pick up and consume); aroma therapy that helps to stimulate appetites as well as musical memories.
Cura will offer other signature programs including Handcrafted Delights, which replaces chemically enhanced juices and supplements with real foods – visually appealing and delicious by using pantry stables and produce already available in the kitchen!
A true hydration cart and puree creations, which transform puréed food into real food that preserves dignity and appeals to the senses – will also increase dining dignity and resident health!
“We look forward to this partnership, and bringing a new, fresh and memorable dining experience to residents, guests and staff,” says Ms. Duffin.
