Coaching the new chef

April 8, 2010

A Kind Dining trainer, working in an  Assisted Living community shared this story today after coaching their new chef about authentic hospitality. Being from the “hospitality” industry he kept referring to the residents as “our” guests.   Read more

Lasting Connections

April 4, 2010

Today is Easter 2010.  Yesterday while carting through the crowded aisles at Safeway I was enveloped in that all too familiar feeling, the sense of loss.  Fourteen months ago my mom died of lung cancer.  At two months shy of her 80th birthday she was still the driving family force, and with an amazing show of courage and a sense of moving on to a new adventure, she left us. Read more

Teaching Respect

April 2, 2010

My husband had minor foot surgery early this morning and as the nurse put the final wrap on his foot, she asked me what I do for work. I shared, I teach food servers in senior living communities how to show good service to elder folks. She immediately reacted with a big surprised smile and blurted “that is so needed! Younger people just don’t know how to show respect to older people!”  Read more

Checklist Manifesto

April 1, 2010

I want to recommend a great book: The Checklist Manifesto: How to get things right by Atul Gawande.  Dr. Gawande is a physician who has pioneered the use of simple checklists in operating rooms to assist staff in getting organized, and prepared for surgery.  Checklists help to get the work done right the first time.  He has proven having a checklist saves lives and money.  If you have participated in Kind Dining training, this might sound familiar! You might think this book would be a dry read, but just like our class, (and module 4 particularly),  it is quite entertaining!

“As a result of Kind Dining® training I can honestly say our servers look better and 100% of them are visibly washing their hands often.”

Sandra Bruce,

--- Dining Room Supervisor Springs at Clackamas Woods, AL, Milwaukie, Oregon

“Cindy’s research was so needed and the application is right on.”

John Hogan,

--- Executive Director in long term care and Instructor Oregon State University in Health Management and Policy