New guidelines: Do old rules apply?

Gail has been a food server in a senior living community for fifteen years. “Our community service team donned masks and closed communal dining early in this pandemic” she reported. “But we still lost some of our food serving team because they were afraid of taking the virus home to their families.” She went on to comment on how helpful … Continue reading

Specialty Retirement Communities: Made to Order

What will your community look like 5 or 10 years from now? It’s becoming more apparent that one size does not fit all. This article in The New York Times, Finding Communities That Connect and Nurture the Like-Minded by Abby Ellindec outlines many of the exciting transformations communities are making to attract new residents and keep existing residents engaged and … Continue reading

Food Safety: ServSafe® & Local Food Production in Portland, OR this Month

Already work or plan to work in food service? Excited to grow food from “farm to food service” in the Rock Creek Learning Garden? NEW COURSE at PCC Rock Creek! Register Now! DM 105: Food Safety: ServSafe® & Local Food Production 2 credits – CRN#: 27431 Covers basic methods and skills related to local food production and foodborne illnesses in … Continue reading

Support Changing the Rules for Ordering Diets

Urgent, action requested by March 8th: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has asked members to support changing the rules that prevent RDs from ordering diets independent of physicians. Details about how you can help are listed below. Should RDs be able to order diets on their own? If you asked anyone at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics they … Continue reading

New Dining Practice Standards Have Arrived

The Pioneer Network has finalized and published nationally agreed upon new food and dining standards for people living in nursing homes. The report includes 62 pages of evidenced-based research that spotlights the connection between the residents’ dining experience and their quality of life. Designed to shift food and dining standards from traditional diagnosis-focused treatment to individualized care and self-directed living, … Continue reading

The Dining Experience and Your Quality Indicator Survey

Last month I discussed “How the Dining Experience Affects Your Quality Indicator Survey” on the Long-Term Living magazine blog. It’s timely to consider this issue because the new federal Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) process is being rolled out across the country by Medicare and Medicaid. Check out the new QIS forms here: Dining Observation Quality Assessment and Assurance (QA&A) Infection … Continue reading