A fresh mix: Meadows Lakes entices residents with a menu of lighter, healthier fare.

How do you fix a problem that residents don't think exists?

At Meadow Lakes, a continuing care retirement community in Hightstown, N.J., the dining program was inefficient and dated, out of sync with the community's new healthy approach to aging. The facility needed a more streamlined, health conscious approach.

In addition, the facility was looking down the road at future clientele that definitely has health in mind: the Baby Boomer generation, a group that will soon be a large part of the Meadow Lakes resident base.

"By working now to establish a culture of flexibility and evolution in our dining program, we hope we'll have an advantage when it comes time to begin marketing to Baby Boomers," Meadow Lakes Executive Director Sharon Eldridge says.

A crucial path on the wag to a Baby Boomer's heart, after all is through the Stomach. And current residents at Meadow Lakes knew what really ate at them Residents at Meadow Lakes claimed to like the facility's food but not their access to it The community found itself serving increasingly fewer meals at breakfast and at lunch, and struggling to maintain appealing buffet offerings for only a few customers in the main dining room.

A snack bar/soda shop-type cafe and a formal dining room served both meals in competition with each other and both suffered from low volume. Residents viewed the snack bar as inadequate in its offerings and in its hours of service, which did not include dinner or weekends.

"It was clear that dining services were ripe for change, and needed to be seen as part and parcel of our larger wellness oriented approach to aging," says Eldridge. "The challenge was that we were essentially tampering with success--our residents already loved the food."

The facility is used to challenges--and change. At 37 years old, Meadow Lakes remains an industry trendsetter. The community recently completed a neighborhood of 15 freestanding cottage homes that are attracting youthful, indipendent-minded seniors.

In the late 1990s, Meadow Lakes turned its focus of care from a medical model to a well received wellness model, adding a cutting edge fitness center and indoor pool Dining services, however, weren't keeping pace with the many changes that marked Meadow Lake's constant evolution and fresh, healthful approach.

Management, together with dining services operator Sodexho Senior Services, the wellness clinic, and fitness team, worked together to create a new approach to dining. A new key player was the registered dietician, who became a critical asset in linking dining and nutrition with healthy aging Residents were also an integral part of the process, participating in focus groups and in a dining committee. Seeking their input and opinions helped ensure acceptance of the changes among the broader population.

The most visible change was the renovation and relocation of the newly-named Lakeside Cafe. New adjacent to the fitness center, this modern and open room offers a self serve "cafeteria-style" option as welt as an option for wait staff service. A 'grab and go" takeout option appeals to residents who are in a hurry. Meanwhile, the convenience store, a part of the Lakeside Cafe, is now truly full-service with offerings that range from toilet paper to caviar.

In its newly prominent location the vibrant cafe and the active residents dining in it are highly visible to prospective residents Proximity to the fitness center reinforces the community's vital, wellness-oriented image.

A newly created "Zest for Life" menu offers 14 selections daily that meet requirements for limited calories, cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat. Menu choices include items such as salmon teriyaki, marinated chicken breast over wild greens, Thai shrimp over lemon grass couscous, fruit smoothies, and of course, brown rice and fresh vegetables prepared simply.

Although hesitant at first, residents soon embraced these healthful choices Monthly themed meals such as Tuscan Trattoria, Pacific Rim, Seafood Bash and Tax Day Cocktail Reception reinforces the Meadow Lake's active, energetic image and keeps residents interested and staff enthusiastic. Finally, expanded hauls improve the cafe's utility--it is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, it is open for breakfast and supper.

The handsome but dated main dining room also received attention, gaining a thorough renovation that included new tables and chairs, new carpeting, new wall coverings and soundproofing.

At the same time, the buffet area was moved to one side of the room with a carving station and two side burner saute stations added. The buffet was improved to keep food hotter; the dessert station, while remaining part of the buffet, was segregated.

Hours for the formal dining room were reduced, encouraging residents to make greater use of the upgraded card service and increasing the number of meals served when the dining room is open Whereas it had formerly served breakfast, lunch and dinner the formal dining room is now open for dinner only, with table and buffet service, Monday through Saturday from 5:15 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sundays, the dining room is open far lunch only, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Rounding out the dining services makeover, some of the changes were made behind the scenes Management sought out new staff members with restaurant experience and looked especially for candidates who could interact in a positive and friendly way with residents and guests. Existing staff were retrained in restaurant style methods of service and guest management.

Meadow Lakes' newly energized dining program now wins high praise from residents and stands out among its peers nationwide Early this year, Sodexho Senior Services designated Meadow Lakes as a "Flagship of Excellence," saying the community met or exceeded the highest standards in 70 different dining benchmarks set by Sodexho.

Of 453 senior communities tracked by Sodexho nationwide, only three met the "Flagship of Excellence" benchmarks. Of those, Meadow Lakes scored the highest. Sodexho operates dining services at Meadow Lakes and six other communities that are affiliated with Presbyterian Homes & Services Inc. of Princeton. The new model also increased revenue for the dining services sector. For the first three quarters of 2002 revenue was already above that for the entire pre-renovation year of 2000 Projections for year-end 2002 show a revenue increase of about $52,000 over the year 2000.

So, even if you think your dining service is humming along smoothly, a few weft-considered changes could create an identity boosting, revenue-enhancing dining experience that helps markets your community from the inside and out.