Gathering around the table to celebrate birthdays and holidays or to catch up with fellow residents are familiar scenes at Bruceville Point. Families are often pleasantly surprised to witness their loved ones sharing not only meals – but also companionship, laughter and mutual support.
In fact, residents quickly discover the community serves as a blueprint for aging and living well. And our healthy dining program’s culinary excellence and wide range of choices is an integral part of that journey.
The challenge of healthy dining for older adults
Residents at Bruceville Point have the opportunity to dine with other residents and experience an emotional connection with them. It’s a reminder that they are part of a vibrant community. The similar stories and milestones shared strengthen bonds, forge new friendships and create a true sense of belonging. Loneliness and social isolation would find it hard to survive in our senior living community.
But not all older adults have someone to share a meal with. For those who live at home alone, it can be challenging to plan, shop and prepare healthy meals daily. And research has uncovered the negative effects of dining solo – including an increase in eating processed food, substituting snacks or even skipping meals altogether.
Metabolism, activity levels and mobility changes can also greatly impact appetites, nutritional needs and even the ability to shop for healthy ingredients. Growing older can result in a decreasing sense of taste, changes to the palate from medication side effects and developing less of an appetite due to declining energy use.
Culinary excellence provides quality of life and choices
At Bruceville Point, we believe choices serve as the foundation of independence. Our residents enjoy the same freedom, possibly more, than before moving here. When, where and what to eat are all their choices to make.
One person may look forward to a quiet morning routine of coffee and fruit while another is ready for a hearty breakfast. Meeting with friends for a light lunch before yoga class or inviting a family member to dinner is common at our community.
And research backs up the Bruceville Point philosophy that socializing during meals often improves eating habits. Studies have found that dining with others encourages those at the table to eat more and to try a wider variety of foods. When you visit one of our dining venues, you’ll understand why our residents often look forward to meals as a highlight of their day.
We have found that more often than not, quality of life and happiness result from the basics. No matter where we choose to call home, the dining experience seems to be a cornerstone for health, energy and even contentment.
Download our complimentary guide Staying Home vs. Senior Living.
Culinary excellence: senior living dining at Bruceville Point
Residents appreciate the spacious apartments and full-sized kitchens so they can still host friends for lunch or a family celebration. But it doesn’t stop there. Consider the three dining venues available and the observations from Chef and Culinary Director Eric Auclair.
Stone Lakes Café: Not everyone is hungry at the same time. Our California casual café offers all-day dining so residents can stop by after an activity or grab a light lunch before. Our comfort foods are favorites, including soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta and the daily chef’s special.
The Bistro: This popular meeting place is often referred to as Bruceville Point’s town hall. Residents can order off the Stone Lakes Café menu and enjoy eating here. It’s also where we host our Happy Hours with cocktails, mocktails and complimentary snacks.
The Cypress Room: When our residents are in the mood for fine dining, the Cypress Room is the place. The white tablecloth atmosphere, entrees and sides set the stage, but the desserts often steal the show. Residents join friends or invite their families for chef-prepared delectables and lively conversations.
The Chef’s viewpoint of culinary excellence at Bruceville Point
“We make high-quality and healthy food that is also prepared with love,” said Auclair. “The residents are our guests but so are the employees who dine with us so it’s important to serve the best.”
Another area of attention is preparing the menus. Bruceville Point understands the role nutrition plays, so the selections must be healthy but also appealing. “We test different recipes and options and the residents let us know their favorites,” Auclair said. “When we find one that is really popular, it often will return as the Chef’s Daily Special.”
The residents are encouraged to voice their preferences. Not surprisingly, Auclair said, “roasts, pork ribs, corn on the cob and country steak are among the favorites – or what most would consider as comfort foods.”
Culinary excellence at Bruceville Point also includes those in the Harbor memory care program. Known for shifting from the attitude of “we can’t” to “how can we?”, the residents are encouraged to choose toppings and make their own pizzas as a special treat. They are then baked in the kitchen, placed in boxes and returned so the residents have the fun experience of so many – take-out pizza.
When asked about one of the bigger challenges of preparing healthy food on a community scale, Auclair said it can be a challenge to create dishes that make everyone happy. For instance, the food can’t be too salty or spicy but it still has to have delicious flavor. “It’s all about finding the right balance between good nutrition and taste. And engaging with the residents lets me know first-hand if I succeeded.”
Discover life at Tenfold’s Bruceville Point
We created Bruceville Point to support our residents to live their best lives possible. Our community’s design, residences, activities and amenities are all focused on helping to connect, engage and create an enriched life.
If you’re searching for senior living that is different from the rest, we hope you will consider Tenfold’s Bruceville Point. We invite you to download our complimentary guide Staying Home vs. Senior Living. Contact us to speak to an advisor, or schedule your tour of Bruceville Point today to experience senior living and our community for yourself.
