✨Dining

Our facility had dining taken over by Morrison Cafeteria and they have discontinued permitting us to take an evening meal in AL on Thanksgiving. They will offer an expensive buffet late morning/early afternoon and then nothing until the next day. What is your community doing?

At Wake Robin in Vermont, All holiday meals are mid-day. Our dining service is provided by in house staff. We support staff being able to have a short day on holidays so they can be with their families.

Janice Clements, Wake Robin

Karen,

You are in the state of Florida. From what you write, they are violating the Florida law / regulations. Look to state regulations for meal and snack requirements at Assisted Living facilities. Below is what I found doing a Google Search.

Linda Kilcrease

Resident of a CCRC

___________________________

Florida State Regulations

Florida law, specifically the Florida Administrative Code, mandates robust food service standards for assisted living facilities (ALFs). 

• Three Meals and Snacks: Facilities must provide residents with at least three nutritious meals daily that meet dietary needs based on age, sex, and activity levels. Snacks must also be offered at least once per day to residents without kitchen access.
• Meal Intervals: Intervals between meals must be evenly distributed throughout the day, with no less than 2 hours and no more than 6 hours between the end of one meal and the beginning of the next.
• Overnight Rule: There can be no more than 14 hours between a substantial evening meal and breakfast the following morning, unless a nourishing snack is provided at bedtime, in which case the time can be extended to 16 hours. 

Holiday Meal Scheduling

Regarding holidays, a facility may adjust the meal schedule (e.g., a mid-day dinner and no evening meal) only if it adheres to the strict meal interval guidelines mentioned above. The time between the end of the mid-day dinner and the next morning's breakfast must not exceed the 14-hour limit (or 16 hours with a snack). 

Facilities are also required to consider residents' preferences and food habits, including accommodating cultural or religious dietary needs and making efforts to create a pleasant dining experience during holidays. 

For more details on Florida's specific regulations, you can review the Florida Administrative Code for Food Service Standards or consult the FloridaHealthFinder website for consumer guides. 

Doesn't apply to Independent Living

Janice Clements, Wake Robin

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any regulation to govern those of us still in indpendent living

There is no regulation of Independent Living unless your state passes a law. In Colorado, we are going forward. Virginia and other states have laws.

Charles Nadler

Wind Crest CCRC (Erickson Senior Living)

Highlands Ranch, Colorado

See what your state's rules are for Assisted Living Meals. For example, Florida Administrative Code 59A-36.012 -

Daily food servings may be divided among three or more meals per day, including snacks, as necessary to accommodate resident needs and preferences.

. . .no more than 14 hours must elapse between the end of an evening meal containing a protein food and the beginning of a morning meal. Intervals between meals must be evenly distributed throughout the day with not less than 2 hours nor more than 6 hours between the end of one meal and the beginning of the next.

I don't find the reference at the moment, but I recall there being something about it being OK to go 16 hours between supper and breakfast if there is a "nourishing" bedtime snack.

At Wake Robin in Vermont, Assisted Living AND Skilled Nursing receive 3 meals a day 365 days a year. No exception on holidays. In Independent Living where the majority of residents reside, one meal a day is provided and on holidays that one meal is mid-day. It is fully within our licensing requirements which are different from Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing residents.

Janice Clements, Wake Robin

There doesn't seem to be any regulation governing meals in independent living even though most of us are in their 80's and 90's.

Do you have a dining committee? Even though we are superannuated we have our preferences. Express yourselves.

There are requirements for meals for those establishments in Virginia which have liquor license.

Perhaps other states are similar.

Virginia Administrative Code

Title 3. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control

Agency 5. Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority

Chapter 50. Retail Operations

3VAC5-50-110.

5. "Meal" means a selection of foods for one individual, served and eaten especially at one of

the customary, regular occasions for taking food during the day, such as breakfast, lunch, or

dinner, that consists of at least one main dish of meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs,

or other protein sources, accompanied by vegetable, fruit, grain, or starch products.

Code of Virginia

Title 4.1. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control

Chapter 1. Definitions and General provisions

§ 4.1-100. Definitions.

"Meals" means, for a mixed beverage license, an assortment of foods commonly ordered in bona fide,

full-service restaurants as principal meals of the day.

There is regulation in Assisted Living because of Medicaid and Medicare.

But residents must organize to get what they want in Independent Living.

Those communities that have a Resident Advisory Council (RAC) usually have a Dining Committee.

RACs usually are controlled by management and not the residents. They give the appearance of resident control.

If your community does an annual satisfaction survey you can have a major impact on dining and other things by organizing your fellow residents to give unsatisfactory ratings. It doesn't take many negative votes to get change!

Charles Nadler

Wind Crest CCRC (Erickson Senior Living)

Highlands Ranch, Colorado