Can you spot what is wrong with this picture?

Take a close look; you can enlarge it by clicking on it.

This server is doing a lot of things right. Her hair and clothes are tidy, her work area is clean, she is making eye contact, and she has a warm, welcoming smile. But notice her right hand–she’s touching a water glass at the top, right where the resident would drink from it. This is poor hygiene and unsavory for the person about to receive the glass of water.

Being service smart means paying close attention to details and practicing good habits until they become second nature. What might seem like a small slip-up can make a significant, negative impact on the people we serve, undermining our other good work.

Which details do you need to mind better? Make it a point to start practicing new habits until your dining service is picture perfect!

For more tips on delivering excellent resident-centered dining in your nursing home, assisted living, memory care, or independent senior living community, read Hospitality for Boomers: How to Attract Residents, Retain Staff, and Maximize Profitability by Cindy Heilman, MS, DTR.