Posted by: donnamanring on: May 5, 2011
Guest blogger, Thomas P. Moore is the Executive Director of Wisconsin Health Care Association. Thanks Tom.
It is no coincidence that National Nursing Home Week commences on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a special event formally recognized in many countries at different times throughout the year.. However, it is a national holiday in the US which is always celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in May.
While everyone will honor their own and other Mothers this weekend, few are cognizant of the origins of the holiday. To that end, WHCA offers the following to share with your mother, residents, friends and relatives as you celebrate this Sunday.
Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the Hallmark Card board room. Earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.
In the United States, Mother’s Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it “Mother’s Work Day.”
Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston poet, pacifist, suffragist, and author of the lyrics to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace, since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.
In 1905 when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign to memorialize the life work of her mother. Legend has it that young Anna remembered a Sunday school lesson that her mother gave in which she said,
“I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s
day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers.” Anna began to lobby prominent businessmen like John Wannamaker, and politicians including Presidents Taft and Roosevelt to support her campaign to create a special day to honor mothers. At one of the first services organized to celebrate Anna’s mother in 1908, at her church in West Virginia, Anna handed out her mother’s favorite flower, the white carnation. Five years later, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling for officials of the federal government to wear white carnations on Mother’s Day. In 1914 Anna’s hard work paid off when Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday.
At first, people observed Mother’s Day by attending church, writing letters to their mothers, and eventually, by sending cards, presents, and flowers. With the increasing gift-giving activity associated with Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis became enraged. She believed that the day’s sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of greed and profit. In 1923 she filed a lawsuit to stop a Mother’s Day festival, and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a convention selling carnations for a war mother’s group. Before her death in 1948, Jarvis is said to have confessed that she regretted ever starting the mother’s day tradition.
Despite Jarvis’s misgivings, Mother’s Day continues to flourish in the United States. In fact, the second Sunday of May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and
daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers.
Happy Mothers Day to all you Mothers!
Posted by: donnamanring on: September 29, 2009
Does your restaurant want to have repeat customers who market your business for free? Are you missing opportunities by not focusing on the fastest growing population of people? As Americans live longer restaurants are stepping up to appeal to older people. The number of seniors in the United States is increasing allowing restaurants new opportunities for growth in sales. Restaurants that cater to seniors or as I prefer “the wiser population” will have “loyal” return business. Many folks who find a restaurant they like will continue to come and back tell their friends about their “favorite” spots to eat out. Seniors find that they don’t want to cook as much as they used to. They had their days of cooking and now enjoy having someone else do the cooking for them. That’s where you come in. What can you do to entice seniors to your restaurant and keep them coming back for more?
Discovering what the needs or expectations of the senior population is critical for success. Food service operations need to adjust their service concept or perception to meet the needs of seniors. For many seniors eating out is a social event. Elderly people want to have friendly service and be welcomed in a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere. Dining staff have to learn how to perceive them, provide a friendly atmosphere and make them feel important. Seniors look for an enjoyable atmosphere that they can share with family and friends. Some studies indicate that return business was related to friendly staff and good customer service. Trends lead to elderly eating out on weekdays, generally breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. Many seniors enjoy “comfort” type foods like meat loaf, chicken, pork chops and similar type foods.
What can you do to create an inviting place for seniors to come and socialize? Create a warm and friendly environment that will make elderly people feel as they are eating at home. It is necessary for dining staff members to understand elderly to provide the right service to them. When eating out with my father, he chooses places that make him feel valued and remember him. He has his favorite places that he always returns to! One restaurant that my father frequently goes to, the cook came out to meet my father. He offered that my father could call in advance if he was coming and wanted something special to eat. Now that is personalized service! We all can’t do that but what can you do to customize your services?
Elderly are looking for convenience and companionship when eating out. The experience starts when the customer walks in the door. Many of us talk and walk fast. Seniors often need us to slow down. Your greeting should be authentic and cheery making them feel welcome and comfortable the moment they walk in the door. When you are escorting them to the table, walk in a pace that the senior customer can keep up with. Are you able to seat them at a table without multiple obstacles to get through? Seniors often prefer a less noisy place to sit. Ask if they prefer a booth or a table when possible, considering what is easier for them to get in and out of. Choose a table that has adequate lighting.
One study found that friendliness of the service and the feeling that they are valued customers by giving individual attention, rather than speed and accuracy of service, were two important factors to satisfy elderly people. Greeters and wait staff that are friendly, not pushy and take their time assisting the elderly will generate return business.
In restaurants, the elderly frequently dine before 6 P.M. to take advantage of early-bird specials. But some restaurants, particularly nationwide chains, offer special discounts.
These restaurants say the older customer wants both smaller portions and lower prices. Some restaurants offer a senior citizens’ menu. Some restaurants have a smaller portion menu. If smaller portions are not an option for your establishment you can offer to box up a portion of the meal promoting value in another meal to take home. Another option can be allowing patrons to split the meal with someone.
Consider that some elderly are on low sodium or low cholesterol diets. What can you do to accommodate dietary restrictions? Possibly the wait staff can make suggestions if the customer makes them aware of dietary concerns. Be in tune to questions or comments made.
However, the most important thing that has to be remembered is know your customers first by determining their needs and wants. Then create the mix of products and services that will satisfy those needs and wants and finally promote and sell the service to generate satisfactory income. The elderly have the time to enjoy eating out. You will have a new market of loyal satisfied “return” customers who will spread the word about your establishment. Aging networks will hear that you cater to seniors and will become a resource of advertising for you. What a great opportunity to grow your business in these challenging times!
For more information, contact Donna Manring, owner of Innovative Dining Solutions at www.info@InnovativeDiningSolutions.com
Posted by: donnamanring on: September 21, 2009
Does your restaurant want to have repeat customers who market your business for free? Are you missing opportunities by not focusing on the fastest growing population of people? As Americans live longer restaurants are stepping up to appeal to older people. The number of seniors in the United States is increasing allowing restaurants new opportunities for growth in sales. Restaurants that cater to seniors or as I prefer “the wiser population” will have “loyal” return business. Many folks who find a restaurant they like will continue to come and back tell their friends about their “favorite” spots to eat out. Seniors find that they don’t want to cook as much as they used to. They had their days of cooking and now enjoy having someone else do the cooking for them. That’s where you come in. What can you do to entice seniors to your restaurant and keep them coming back for more?
Discovering what the needs or expectations of the senior population is critical for success. Food service operations need to adjust their service concept or perception to meet the needs of seniors. For many seniors eating out is a social event. Elderly people want to have friendly service and be welcomed in a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere. Dining staff have to learn how to perceive them, provide a friendly atmosphere and make them feel important. Seniors look for an enjoyable atmosphere that they can share with family and friends. Some studies indicate that return business was related to friendly staff and good customer service. Trends lead to elderly eating out on weekdays, generally breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. Many seniors enjoy “comfort” type foods like meat loaf, chicken, pork chops and similar type foods.
What can you do to create an inviting place for seniors to come and socialize? Create a warm and friendly environment that will make elderly people feel as they are eating at home. It is necessary for dining staff members to understand elderly to provide the right service to them. When eating out with my father, he chooses places that make him feel valued and remember him. He has his favorite places that he always returns to! One restaurant that my father frequently goes to, the cook came out to meet my father. He offered that my father could call in advance if he was coming and wanted something special to eat. Now that is personalized service! We all can’t do that but what can you do to customize your services?
Elderly are looking for convenience and companionship when eating out. The experience starts when the customer walks in the door. Many of us talk and walk fast. Seniors often need us to slow down. Your greeting should be authentic and cheery making them feel welcome and comfortable the moment they walk in the door. When you are escorting them to the table, walk in a pace that the senior customer can keep up with. Are you able to seat them at a table without multiple obstacles to get through? Seniors often prefer a less noisy place to sit. Ask if they prefer a booth or a table when possible, considering what is easier for them to get in and out of. Choose a table that has adequate lighting.
One study found that friendliness of the service and the feeling that they are valued customers by giving individual attention, rather than speed and accuracy of service, were two important factors to satisfy elderly people. Greeters and wait staff that are friendly, not pushy and take their time assisting the elderly will generate return business.
In restaurants, the elderly frequently dine before 6 P.M. to take advantage of early-bird specials. But some restaurants, particularly nationwide chains, offer special discounts.
These restaurants say the older customer wants both smaller portions and lower prices. Some restaurants offer a senior citizens’ menu. Some restaurants have a smaller portion menu. If smaller portions are not an option for your establishment you can offer to box up a portion of the meal promoting value in another meal to take home. Another option can be allowing patrons to split the meal with someone.
Consider that some elderly are on low sodium or low cholesterol diets. What can you do to accommodate dietary restrictions? Possibly the wait staff can make suggestions if the customer makes them aware of dietary concerns. Be in tune to questions or comments made.
However, the most important thing that has to be remembered is know your customers first by determining their needs and wants. Then create the mix of products and services that will satisfy those needs and wants and finally promote and sell the service to generate satisfactory income. The elderly have the time to enjoy eating out. You will have a new market of loyal satisfied “return” customers who will spread the word about your establishment. Aging networks will hear that you cater to seniors and will become a resource of advertising for you. What a great opportunity to grow your business in these challenging times!
For more information, contact Donna Manring, owner of Innovative Dining Solutions at www.info@InnovativeDiningSolutions.com
Posted by: donnamanring on: August 18, 2009
As a Dietetic Technician, accredited by the American Dietetic Association I firmly believe taxation on sugar-sweetened drinks sends an inappropriate message to consumers. Rather, a positive approach that stimulates healthy eating choices is needed. Evidence based research concludes that all foods can fit into a healthy eating lifestyle, if used in moderation. Exercise, portion size and a healthy lifestyle are the key. It is important to recognize that obesity is a complex issue. Studies prove that no one food or beverage is responsible for the problem. People should not be denied their favorite foods and beverages if they’re getting the nutrients they need and keep calories within their daily needs. As a consultant with the food and beverage industry, I am aware of many programs and initiatives dedicated to educate consumers and encourage healthy behaviors. Providing education to allow people to make informed choices has had positive, successful outcomes. One example is the national School Beverage Guidelines which promotes healthy beverage consumption. This educational campaign, initiated in 2006, focused on providing more nutritious drinks in schools. So far, there has been a 58% decrease in total calories and a 65% reduction in consumption of full calorie soft drinks. It’s a matter of balancing food and beverage intake with physical activity. A positive approach would be education in fueling our bodies with the nutrients we need to enable us to enjoy our favorite foods and beverages. Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. We can enjoy the taste of eating right with education and science based information in order to make healthy eating choices. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/15/MNF61951C0.DTL
Posted by: donnamanring on: August 11, 2009
Consumers are hit every day in media and other sources on what to eat and what not to eat. Add to the confusion the term or shall I say title ”nutritionist”. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. As you are reading or viewing nutrition information ask yourself is this the latest evidence based science? Where did they get this information? What studies/research backs what they are saying? Where did they get their nutrition education? Are they licensed or registered with the American Dietetic Association?
A segment that aired on the weekend edition of Good Morning America in which a “nutritionist” discussed various foods to eat at different times. Much of the information presented was not based on the latest evidence-based science. This type of information confuses the viewers.
Recently on facebook I read a comment from someone saying if diabetics would not eat refined flours and sugar they wouldn’t have blood sugar problems. Now that is madness and it is not science based. Clearly this is one person’s opinion and not factual.
What can you do? Rely on credible resources or associations that use science based information. Don’t be swayed by headlines and food trends. Think like a juror! Get all the facts. Ask questions. Be informed. Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Enjoy the taste of eating right by making informed choices. All foods can fit in a healthy eating lifestyle. Follow the recommendation of your doctor. Consult with professionals that have been trained and credentialed to provide information that is based on science, not fad and fiction. Healthy eating to you all!
Posted by: donnamanring on: July 31, 2009
Finding a skilled nursing facility for your loved one can be a stressful and emotional process. It is not only hard on the person who needs placement but it can be an emotional burden on the family too. Many of us have had to go through this process and we know how difficult it can be.
One of the first steps is to tour the facility. You can get a feel of the facility by walking around and seeing possible rooms, nursing, dining, activities and therapy programs. One suggestion is to visit the facility at different times such as meal times, weekends and evenings. Visit all the facilities you are interested in. Start your assessment in the parking lot.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Take notes in order to be able to compare facility benefits. Placing a loved one in a skilled facility is emotional. Remember that skilled nursing facilities are not what they used to be. Many skilled facilities are state of the art and can become “home” for those that need cares we can no longer provide. You may wish to contact your state health care association or Agency on Aging for support and additional information. There are many resources in helping you make an informed decision. Here is a tool to help you with your assessment process. http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Checklist.asp
Donna Manring, www.InnovativeDiningSolutions.com
Posted by: donnamanring on: July 29, 2009
Food-borne bacteria grow fastest at hot summertime temperatures. To keep food safe, CSPI recommends you follow these simple steps:
Posted by: donnamanring on: June 24, 2009
Getting the most out of health care services requires you to be active and vocal in all aspects of health care. You need to see yourself as a customer who is purchasing services from health care providers.
Consider bringing an advocate or a friend who can:
* Listen-sometimes at doctor’s appointments you may be nervous or feeling overwhelmed. Having someone listen with you will help you get all the information being offered.
*Take notes-taking notes will help you have a record of what has been said. If the provider is speaking to fast, ask them to slow down in order to be able to take good notes.
*Ask questions-if you don’t understand ask them to explain what they are saying.
This strategy is especially important if you tend to forget your questions, freeze or become less effective as a self-advocate when dealing with health issues. Plus the added support is helpful.
If you take an advocate for support:
Prior to your appointments.
This information can help your doctor see patterns of symptoms and reactions over time.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENTS
Stay focused at appointments. Put your questions and comments on a note card or piece of paper so that you can get your questions answered at the appointment. This will help ensure that you will use your time wisely when you are with your care provider
During an appointment, take notes on important information. At the end of a visit, always check your understanding by briefly repeating what you heard the provider say.
Consider bringing a tape recorder if you don’t want to worry about taking notes or remembering what was said. Inform the provider that you would like to tape the appointment.
Don’t pretend you understand if you don’t. By asking questions you will be able to make informed decisions and be in charge of your health care.
Create Your Own Medical Record
Many people see multiple doctor’s and it can become confusing. Ask for copies of lab work and appointments. Place the copies in a binder with tabs for lab work, procedures and appointments. You can easily flip through the binder when you are looking for information. With my parents I find this to be helpful. Prepare a personal information work sheet with your emergency contacts, medical contacts and insurance information.
Keep a list of all your medications and dosages in your purse or wallet. Be sure to note any medication allergies or those you are not able to tolerate.
You can get the most out of managing your health care by being organized and informed. You are in charge of your health care!
Posted by: donnamanring on: May 21, 2009
Many of us do not give water much thought. We get thirsty we drink fluid and forget about it. In reality water has quite the job description in our bodies. Water/fluid transports nutrients, carries away waste and ensures adequate blood volume. Water accounts for over one half of your body weight. Being hydrated will help keep your eyes, mouth and nose moist. Your skin stays smoother when you keep body fluids in balance. Water plays a key role in digestion, absorption and transportation. If you are taking medications, water helps transport medicine! Water acts as a body temperature control system and lubricates your joints. Water will help protect against heat exhaustion. We are often getting dehydrated before we get the signal we are thirsty. Know the signs of dehydration. Signs and symptoms may be increased thirst, dry mouth, flushed skin, headache, fatigue and dizziness. Take water breaks throughout the day. Another great way to stay hydrated is considering the fluid content in foods. Foods like soups, Popsicles, jello, cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes and yes even ice cream can help you power your body with needed fluids. Check out the water content of additional foods. Monitor caffeine! As you may know caffeine can decrease your hydration status. So here’s to keeping your body hydrated! Enjoy fruits, vegetables, fluids and choose to nourish your body. www.InnovativeDiningSolutions.com
Posted by: donnamanring on: May 13, 2009
Have health care claims on packages crossed the line of marketing? Do you wonder if the focus on marketing should be a priority over food safety?
Cheerios has comes under scrutiny by the FDA claiming that Cheerios is in essence making a drug claim. FDA cited the claim that “you can lower your cholesterol by 4 per cent in six weeks” by eating Cheerios regularly. Another reminder to consumers to think like a juror when looking at labeling and marketing techniques.
Whole grains are recognized as important sources of nutrients including fiber, trace minerals, and certain vitamins. Research shows that healthful diets rich in whole grain foods are helpful in reducing the risks of heart disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes, and may also help in weight management.
When choosing whole grain products look beyond a product’s name. Descriptive words in the product’s name, such as stone-ground, multi-grain, 100% wheat, or bran, do not necessarily indicate that a product is whole grain. Words to look for include “whole grain” or “100% whole wheat.
Labeling regulations allow a food to be called a good source of fiber if the food contains 2.5 to 4.9 grams of fiber per serving; an excellent source if it contains more than 4.9 grams per serving.
A health claim might read, “Diets rich in whole-grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol may help reduce risk of heart disease and certain cancers.” Here is where the FDA is challenging Cheerios. Is Cheerios making a health or drug claim? If it is considered a drug claim there must be science based studies to back that claim.
I still wonder given all the food borne illnesses that are occurring, should our priority be food safety? That being said, choosing a eating lifestyle that includes whole grains is a good choice. The bottom line is eat a wide variety of foods that fuel your body for maximum health benefits! Read the labels and make wise food choices. www.InnovativeDiningSolutions.com
