Gardens , Making Life Better By Kathie Kane In almost every garden , the land is made better and so is the gardener . ~ Robert Rodale
Culinary activities are rated as one of the top items desired by residents in senior living communities . Not surprising , we plan our lives around our meals . It seems that we finish one meal and start thinking about what we want to eat at the next . Sound familiar ?
Communities need to consider opportunities to engage people in the dining experience . In a session called Garden to Table : Creating Memorable Culinary Experiences Through Resident Involvement , the presentation was led by John Kennedy , CDM , director of dining services , Flik Lifestyles Foulkeways Continuing Care Retirement Community , Gwyned , PA ; Jack Carman , FASLA , RLA , president , Design for Generations , LLC , Medford , NJ ; and Todd Burge , senior executive chef , Flik Lifestyles , Troy .
Participants learned first-hand about the garden to table process when Chef Todd served a fresh salad of lettuces and herbs grown and picked that day . As people savored every bite , John Kennedy and Jack Carman shared ideas and options on how members can engage staff and residents in the growing , planning and preparing of meals . They reminded us to look beyond the walls and out into the open spaces surrounding our communities for dining and garden opportunities such as outdoor eating areas , bistros and coffee bars . These destination areas can also be used in marketing approaches , as social areas for guests , and as meeting places for people from the community . Attendees were reminded that gardens can spring up in small or large spaces and they have the potential to enhance the lives of everyone . The key to a successful garden is having realistic expectations during the planning phase . Start small and you can “ grow ” the size of your garden based on the interest of residents .
It isn ’ t just the pride residents have when they grow and share their food , it ’ s the sense of purpose and connection with nature they gain during the process . Some on-site gardens can even be opened to local neighbors in the area . Participation from offsite people enhances outreach to potential residents and families .
The residents of the future are looking for lifestyle not just a roof over their heads . You must plan now for them . As for the residents in your facility , if you want to find a way to improve their appetite , health and overall enjoyment – plant a garden and see what grows .
For more information on how to start or expand a garden at your facility contact Jack Carman , jack @ designforgenerations . com ; John Kennedy , JohnKennedy @ Fliklifestyles . com ; or Chef Todd Burge , ToddBurge @ Fliklifestyles . com .
Leadership in Action by Sarah Daly ( 2016-2017 IGNITE Leadership Academy Graduate )
A “ leader ” is often defined as an individual who commands a group or institution . However , Fellows that have graduated from LeadingAge New York ’ s IGNITE Leadership Academy have learned that leaders can hold a variety of different roles and that being a leader means tackling that role holistically ; including having a strong understanding of self , the ability and desire to be collaborative , a mindset primed for innovative thinking and embracing work-life balance .
The Ideas You Can Use : Leadership Academy Projects Panel session at the 2017 LeadingAge New York Annual Conference and Exposition dove into the Active Learning Projects ( ALPs ) of several Leadership Academy graduates . The panel represented a wide range of jobs such as directors of operations , HR coordinators and administrators and , for some , represented their first public engagement where they were positioned as a leader for their organization .
The graduates spoke proudly of the projects they brought back to their organizations following their Leadership Academy graduation .
They explained that understanding themselves as leaders began with the realization that a “ leader ” can be anyone who seeks to improve themselves , their peers and their environment .
While the panel offered a variety of individual styles , strengths and job roles , there was a common thread among many of the projects . Triciajean Jones , director of life enrichment at St . Ann ’ s Community , detailed her initiative to cultivate leadership qualities among her colleagues with the inception of St . Ann ’ s Leadership Academy . Joe Bisaccia , assistant administrator at Cabrini of Westchester , created training procedures to encourage staff to be more effective during potential emergencies , for example handling a grease fire .
The IGNITE Leadership Academy kick starts Fellows ’ engagement in a leadership capacity within their own organizations through the Action Learning Project ( ALP ) and it encourages graduates to continue their leadership journey through public speaking and other association and aging field involvement including committee , cabinet and board of director service .
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