This blog is the first in a series examining what assisted living has to offer to seniors and their families.
There is a common misconception that assisted living and nursing homes provide the same types of services. While both serve seniors, nursing homes can provide round-the-clock short-term or long-term medical care. Assisted living communities are designed to promote independence while lending assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). As the name implies, ADLs are everyday tasks like grooming, dressing, medication management, and more, which may present a challenge for older adults. Residents at The Bristal find luxurious accommodations, upscale amenities, and enriching activities that they can enjoy with their peers, as well as a professional and caring team that is dedicated to their health and wellbeing.
Hospitality at The Bristal
Hospitality services encompass several departments at The Bristal including dining, housekeeping, and maintenance. Each area plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for residents at The Bristal, which we will explore in greater detail in the following sections.
Fine Dining
One of life’s greatest pleasures is enjoying a wonderful meal with friends. The Bristal understands that community often happens around the dinner table, so we strive to make each meal memorable. It starts with the dining room team, who takes the time to get to know each resident – their likes and dislikes – in an effort to make sure each meal is as pleasant as possible. The food service team, led by the Director of Food Service at each community, prepares a wide variety of dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. Seasonally rotating menus and specialty dining programs, like action stations, mean there are plenty of new dishes to experience. Of course, feedback from residents is very important and incorporated as the menu is updated.
Dining at The Bristal is so much more than just five-star cuisine, though. Taste of Home is an innovative program that encourages residents to share their treasured family recipes with the community. The Director of Food Service regularly selects a recipe to demonstrate, which might be served during happy hour or as a snack. It is a great way for residents to connect while learning about each other’s history and culture, in addition to enjoying some tasty food!
Of course, the foundation of The Bristal’s dining program is ensuring that each resident’s nutritional needs are met in a way that nourishes their body and soul. For individuals with special dietary needs, it can be easy to meet nutritional needs while missing the things that make a meal special like presentation, texture, and taste. The food service team has received in-depth training to make sure that residents who require a specialty diet – mechanical, gluten-free, low-sodium, or otherwise – can have the same dining experience as their fellow residents.
Housekeeping
Aside from gourmet dining, one of the amenities residents at The Bristal appreciate most is housekeeping. Freedom from daily chores like laundry and cleaning allows residents to pursue the things they love most – spending time with friends and family or enjoying their favorite hobbies. Similar to the dining room team, the housekeeping team gets to know each resident and their individual needs and preferences. It could be as simple leaving the blinds open or closed to placing a resident’s favorite slippers by their bed. Small, but important details that allows them to ensure each apartment is not only clean, but a comfortable place where each resident can rest and relax.
In addition to cleaning each resident’s apartment, the housekeeping team is also responsible for maintaining the common areas throughout each community. Residents are free to entertain family and friends without the stress of having to tidy-up beforehand, or clean-up afterwards.
Maintenance
From fixing leaky faucets to changing light bulbs, our maintenance team is essential to keeping The Bristal communities running smoothly inside and out. Members of the maintenance team are responsible for painting the common areas, as well as keeping the grounds looking exquisite. Once the weather turns warm, they make sure the pool is clean and ready to use, and during winter they keep the walkways cleared and safe to use.
Maintenance team members are available during resident move-ins to assist with a variety of tasks – from hanging pictures to hooking up a cable connection. Of course, they are also available to assist residents with minor repairs, or to address heating or cooling issues that might arise.
Explore Assisted Living at The Bristal
To learn more about all The Bristal has to offer seniors and their families, click here.
