 Home | Recent News | Fulton | Dining Services | Printme 06 Jun 2008 A New Beginning: Presbyterian Manor transforms dining servicesBy David Dinell  |  | Creating omelets, pancakes and other breakfast meals to order... | |
Three times a day, retired minister Ted Jaeger strolls from his apartment at Presbyterian Manor to the Manor’s dining area where he sits down to an elegantly-set table and a full menu to choose from. “It’s a very attractive presence,” says Jaeger. “And the food is excellent, too.” Presbyterian Manor has recently changed the Manor’s active living and assisted living dining experience from a standard approach to a modern, restaurant-like atmosphere. Senior-living communities like Presbyterian Manor are discovering the positive impact that attractively-presented food can have, and are moving in the direction of offering foods and services that are traditionally found in restaurants. “Our dining room is offering a more upscale dining experience for those who live with us,” says Executive Director Jackie Luetkemeyer. “This experience parallels the friendly, neighborhood feel that you would find in a restaurant in the community-at-large.” “Being able to order from a menu has allowed flexibility in food choices,” says Director of Nursing Jan Johnson, whose floral shop experiences were utilized during the redecoration of the dining room. “More food choices along with the new ambiance in the dining room itself has greatly enhanced the entire dining experience!” Dining Services Director Robert Alford says he can see the results of the changes reflected on the residents’ faces. “Our residents are definitely enjoying it,” he says. He and his staff work hard, especially on plate presentation, because, as he says, “You eat with your eyes, too.” Alford, who has 12 years’ experience in food-services for seniors, oversees a staff of four chefs with a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds. During breakfast, a chef stands at a cooking station in the dining room, creating omelets, pancakes and other breakfast meals to order. “The in-dining room cooking presents a great atmosphere for everyone,” says Alford, “and we fill the room with many wonderful aromas.” Part of the transformation of the dining area involves an eight-foot long hallway mural that residents, staff and guests see as they enter the dining room. The mural, created by Activities Director Jeff Young, depicts a street scene from the 1950s. “We want the residents to feel like they are walking down the street and into a restaurant,” says Luetkemeyer. “Residents have really enjoyed watching Jeff make this mural come to life.”
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