No two residents at The Arbors at Dracut have the same taste buds. Some residents are on medications and need special accommodations, while others need to eat a balanced diet. That’s no problem for Bob Coffman, Dining Services Director at The Arbors at Dracut. He embraces the variety of taste buds he gets to work with on a daily basis.
“Knowing what the residents like and don’t like for food choices really comes down to getting to know who they are. Anytime a new resident moves in, I take the time to sit down and talk with them. Ask them about what they like and don’t like,” says Bob.
Bob incorporates a variety of meal choices each week for the residents.
“I try and cook something new any chance I get. It’s how I stay creative and keep the residents happy with new and exciting choices. I’ve found they like to just have a few choices, but not too many like it’s a restaurant – but just enough so they feel like they have a say in what they’re eating,” says Bob.
Fine Dining
Each month the residents enjoy a fine dining experience. Bob creates a meal, mostly from scratch, that allows the residents to enjoy each other’s company over an elegant meal. The first meal he made was a handmade beef wellington with an elegant potato side dish. But he didn’t stop there, the next month he featured chicken cordon bleu with a fresh noodle beet salad and made-from-scratch crepes for dessert. These meals are a chance for Bob to tap into his creative cooking and give the residents an experience they won’t forget.
Bob notes that “It’s fun for me to create these special meals. I get to teach the staff new cooking skills while making a new recipe.”
Tailoring Food to Each Resident
Typically, in assisted living, every resident is served the same food regardless. Bob approaches the menu planning a little differently. Each month he reviews any comments or feedback the residents provide, and he takes those into consideration while creating the meals.
“Each resident is different and there aren’t any two that are the same. I really individualize the meals to each resident the best I can,” says Bob.
While each resident might have their own taste of what’s good and not so good, there are a few favorites everyone enjoys. Meatloaf and ham are popular classics that everyone is fond of.
“At the start of summer, we started serving a lobster slider, and all of the sudden they want lobster sliders for lunch every day!” says Bob. “But I have to remind them that lobster can get spendy, so it’s a ‘special meal’ for them in the summer.”
Sitting down and eating a meal is much more than just chewing food, it’s a time to socialize with others and enjoy each bite. The Arbors at Dracut dinning program gives you the chance to do just that.