CALA News & Views | Issue 50 | Dining

Welcome to this edition of CALA News & Views where we dive into the world of dining and hospitality in Assisted Living communities. The dining experience in our communities goes beyond mere sustenance; it’s about creating memorable moments, fostering connections and promoting overall well being. In this issue, we aim to provide you with a wealth of insights and practical advice to help you elevate your community's dining experience. Nutrition plays a vital role in the health and happiness of residents. You’ll find valuable contributions such as tips on maximizing budgets, Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai’s insights on nutrition and brain health, and a spotlight on Ensan Wong from Cogir, who came to an Assisted Living community after a career working in some of the top restaurants around the world. Whether you’re interested in resident satisfaction, cutting-edge kitchen design, or specialized culinary training programs, this edition is your resource for improving dining services in your community. Enjoy! Sally Michael, CALA’s President & CEO LET’S EAT

IN

THIS ISSUE 4 Dining Regulations and Food Waste Solutions 8 Adapting to Culinary Trends in Senior Living 12 Next Level Dining 16 Optimizing Culinary Budgets 20 Shining Stars: Celebrating Our Northern California Award Recipients 21 Combating Cognitive Decline 27 From Michelin Star Restaurants to Assisted Living: Ensan Wong Has a Unique Culinary Journey 29 Culinary Knockout Competition 31 Recruit and Upskill Your Culinary Staff CALA News & Views – Submission Policy At this time, CALA does not accept unsolicited articles or queries. Many of the articles we publish are written by our regular contributing writers. We appreciate the time and energy people put into making suggestions for our current and future issues. Our organization’s policy, however, prevents us from accepting for review any unsolicited submissions.

Nancy Ball Director of Meetings and Events nancy@CAassistedliving.org Denise Brandt Director of Workforce Development denise@CAassistedliving.org

Selena Coppi Hornback Director of Public Policy selena@CAassistedliving.org Agnes de la Vega Education and Workforce Associate agnes@CAassistedliving.org Heather Harrison Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Public Affairs heather@CAassistedliving.org Kate Henneinke Membership Manager kate@CAassistedliving.org Katherine McLoskey Director of Operations katherine@CAassistedliving.org Sally Michael President & CEO sally@CAassistedliving.org Haty Pietrasz Director of Creative Design haty@CAassistedliving.org Brandi Pittman Administrative Assistant brandi@CAassistedliving.org Kevin Swartzendruber Director of Marketing & Communications kevin@CAassistedliving.org Jan Trifiro Vice President of Professional Development jan@CAassistedliving.org

CALA STAFF

CALA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Chair Ron Mead, Vice President of Operations Senior Resource Group, LLC Vice Chair David Eskenazy, CEO, Cogir Management USA, Inc. Treasurer Laura Fischer, Chief Operating Officer, Integral Senior Living

Secretary Courtney Siegel, President & CEO, Oakmont Management Group Past Board Chair Danielle Morgan, President, Clearwater Living

DIRECTORS OFFICERS

Michel Augsburger, Chairman & CEO, Chancellor Health Care, Inc Mark Cimino , CEO & Co-Owner, CiminoCare Dave Coluzzi, President & CEO, Carlton Senior Living Tara Cope, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, Vi Senior Living Denise Falco , Senior Vice President of North American Field Operations, Sunrise Senior Living Paula Hertel, Founder, Senior Living Consult Rick Jensen, President & CEO, Northstar Senior Living Michelle Kelly , Senior Vice President, Investments for National Health Investors, Inc Douglas Lessard, COO & Executive Vice President, Belmont Village Senior Living Tana McMillon , Regional Vice President of Operations, Silverado Memory Care Nancy Schier Anzelmo, Principal, Alzheimer’s Care Associates Todd Shetter, Chief Operating Officer, ActivCare Living Jay Thomas , Assistant General Counsel, Operations, Atria Senior Living Rodger Lederer, Senior Vice President, Marsh Senior Care Practice Ray Leisure, Division Vice President, Brookdale Senior Living

CALA 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 222 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 448-1900 www.CAassistedliving.org

Copyright © 2024 California Assisted Living Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form - print, electronic, or otherwise - without written permission from CALA.

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Josh Allen, Principal, Allen Flores Consulting Group Joel Goldman, Partner, Hanson Bridgett