Dining
Dining at Maple Cottage is as personalized as everything else we do. In our intimate cottage environment, delicious, homestyle meals are the highlight of each day. Meals at Maple Cottage are “cooked to order” and served fresh and hot, never from a steam table! The wonderful aromas of cooking and baking permeate the common areas of Maple Cottage before meals, promoting the appetites and enjoyment of our residents. All of our meals take into consideration the preferences and dislikes of residents and, of course, any food allergies
Breakfast is an “as you like it” affair, served at each resident’s convenience. We understand that many of our residents have strong breakfast preferences and individual choices are respected seven days a week! Pajamas, robes and bedroom slippers are welcome in the dining room at breakfast as our residents begin each new day at their leisure. The coffee is hot and delicious, and the conversation is lively.
Lunch is “cook’s choice”, and our chef makes some great choices! A typical lunch could be chicken noodle soup, a BLT, a deviled egg, some chips and a side of sliced peaches. Dessert is the best part of every meal, and a scoop of ice cream with chocolate sauce is a perennial favorite at Maple Cottage.
A dinner of chicken fried steak with country gravy, accompanied by mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, is a resident favorite, served with a yeast roll and butter. A slice of red velvet cake polishes off a great meal, and gets everyone in the mood for some evening activities, such as a sing-along around the piano, or a classic old film enjoyed as a family.
“Always available items” which serve as substitutes and/or snacks include sandwiches, fruit, yogurt and favorites such as cheese and crackers. A variety of drinks are always on hand as well, including both sweetened and unsweetened iced tea, milk, juice, and hot coffee or tea. Residents can always help themselves in our family-friendly kitchen, and staff is nearby if anyone needs assistance.
Food is so important! For those who are experiencing the challenges of a dementia-related diagnosis, meals are a highlight. It is important that they are tasty, that they fill the residents’ home with inviting aromas and sensory pleasures, and that they are nutritious and well-balanced for ongoing support of good health and wellness. Come experience a meal in our family style dining room, and you will see why the food at Maple Cottage is something that sets us apart from other assisted living communities!
Activities
Engagement, amusement and entertainment — all are different approaches to activities in assisted living. In Memory Care, where residents are sometimes challenged to participate meaningfully in activities, each of these approaches is equally important.
Knowing the preferences of each resident, and respecting basic personality traits such as extroversion and introversion, is critical. The extrovert may love to participate in a group-style game (everybody loves Bingo, don’t they?) while an introvert may find comfort and relaxation alone, in their favorite recliner reading a book or watching a favorite TV show. There simply is no one-size-fits-all activity program. Some people enjoy learning a new skill in a small group (painting or playing Hearts) while others engage by adding a few pieces to a jigsaw puzzle.
Almost everyone appreciates one-on-one time for conversation and laughter; our great staffing ratios (1-to-5 on days, 1-to-8 at night) promote this. At Maple Cottage “care” means care for the whole person, not just grooming and medication assistance. Our Care Partners know that what we value most is a warm and spontaneous conversation, a hand held at just the right moment, or a lively chuckle over a joke shared by a resident.
A Maple Cottage, activities are about moments of joy—doing what you want, when you want and finding comfort and happiness in what you are doing. We strive to be spontaneous and organic, rather than being tethered to an activities calendar. Plans are great; sometime just going with the flow is even better. We have lots to do at Maple Cottage—what do you want to do today?