Food Matters: How Dining Options Impact Senior Living Choices

It’s no secret that food and dining options are important to seniors when choosing a senior living or long-term care option. But do you know just how important they are?

In a survey of prospective senior living residents who planned on moving to a senior living community in the next two years, an incredible 87% said the food and dining experience was important to their consideration.¹

Food, after all, is a central part of our everyday lives—the excitement of having our favorite meal, the joy of eating together with friends and family, the nostalgia associated with a food or flavor we grew up with, the meals and drinks that mark special occasions. Prospective residents don’t want to give up those options when they move into a senior living community.

But food options also have real health implications for senior living residents, and not just when it comes to nutrition itself. Studies show that healthy foods and sharing meals can improve mental health and overall happiness.¹

In other words, prospective residents are right to care about the food options available at a prospective community—they can have a very real impact on their lives. And that impact can be felt day in and day out, with nearly half (49%) of senior living residents saying they eat at on-site facilities regularly.¹

So, how can you create a dining program that differentiates you from your competitors, attracts new residents, and engages current residents?

Case Study: Plentiful options at Sequoia Living

Sequoia Living manages four senior living communities (or Life Plan communities, as they prefer to call them) around California’s Bay Area. Serving thousands of residents and visitors every day, the dining programs at these apartment-style communities look very different from the options previously offered in senior living, a key element that Sequioa uses to attract new residents. With the current generation of seniors growing up viewing the dining table as a place to bond with friends and family, and a trip to a restaurant being a core part of their social life, the dining program needed to reflect these changes. “[Senior living] communities are moving away from lunch lines, food trays, and cafeteria-style dining spaces,” says Sequoia.²

Today, these communities focus on dining options that feel open and social, with meals prepared by chefs. There are lots of options available, giving residents a choice in the type of dining option that matches their needs and schedule for the day—a quick and casual bistro for lunch on one part of the campus, a night out at the more formal dining option on another. They even take advantage of the Bay Area’s moderate climate, offering more café areas and al fresco dining at new facilities, creating dining options that rival those offered by commercial restaurants.²

The key takeaway for Sequoia, and for any senior living community, is that there is no “one size fits all” dining option for modern residents. Every resident has their own needs and wants, which can shift and change depending on the day, their life stage, their evolving health needs, etc.²

Health on the Menu

According to surveys, 60% of all Americans are managing at least one dietary restriction, a number that only increases as we get older.¹

Making it easy for a resident to manage those dietary needs, while also providing delicious and enticing options that don’t feel like a trade-off, sets a senior living community apart. Indeed, healthy foods are essential to the vast majority of residents—84% of both prospective and current residents say it’s important to have access to nutrition information when they’re ordering food.¹

At Sequoia Living communities, vegan and vegetarian options are now fundamental options available to residents, not the afterthought they used to be. Healthy meal choices are vibrant and exciting, with more organic, seasonal, and fresh foods made by chefs in a wide assortment of meal choices.²

At your senior living facility, consider options like a Burger Bar that gives residents a wide range of choices to meet their health needs, like beef, turkey, or plant-based patty options, in a format that is comforting and delicious. Topped with options like Simplot Harvest Fresh® Avocados and Simplot RoastWorks® Unseasoned Peppers & Onions, these colorful, customizable options work in a range of senior living dining types, from a casual bistro to a full-service dinner venue.

On the Menu

What else do residents want to see on the menu at senior living communities? First and foremost, quality matters to anyone choosing a healthcare facility, including a senior living community. In fact, 91% of consumers say food quality is an important factor in their choice of healthcare facility, putting it above cleanliness, affordability, friendly service, and convenience. It’s the most important factor.³

Some of the growing menu items found in long-term care facilities today include numerous fresh, healthy options like grilled and seasonal vegetables and tofu. Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean-inspired dishes and flavors like caprese salads, hummus, coconut shrimp, and mango also add plenty of flavor to menus in a fresh, healthy way.³

With flavor-forward veggies growing on so many long-term care menus, consider Simplot’s labor-saving, crowd-pleasing potato and vegetable options. Simplot RoastWorks® Roasted Herb & Garlic Russet Potatoes have a light, savory seasoning that can upgrade any daypart, from breakfast to lunch to dinner. Looking for an all-purpose topper or side? Consider Simplot’s RoastWorks® RTE Flame-Roasted Corn and Black Bean Fiesta Blend, which only needs to be thawed and served. The colorful blend combines corn, tomatoes, onions, both green and red bell peppers, and the nutritious protein of black beans, all with a lime and garlic seasoning that can brighten up bowls, wraps, salads, and more.

The key lesson is that the dining program is a central part of a senior living community, not just for current residents, but for attracting future residents. A program that offers a wide range of options, both in dining facilities and in the menu, will differentiate itself and keep residents healthy and happy.

¹ How Dining Services Can be a Competitive Differentiatior
² Enhancing the Dining Experience in Senior Living Communities
³ Healthcare Segment Guide, Datassential, July 2024