Page 69 - Life Happens in the Kitchen

CONSIDER THE OPTIONS
Page 63
Financial
The Costs
Food costs may increase initially with enhancements in dining service, but will reestablish within budget once your forecasting skills reflect your residents choices. Residents will eat to satisfaction and you will spend your food dollars wisely to purchase the foods they will eat and enjoy. The generosity of family and community will bolster your budget as dining becomes a community affair. Donations and contributions will come from the most unexpected places, as groups and individuals contribute willingly to the community good. This generation of elders tends to be thankful for a simple, well prepared meal – most preferences or special requests are for simple and economical foods. Perhaps not so when the baby boomers arrive as residents, but we can hope for systemic relief before that new challenge to our already struggling reimbursement system arrives.
Supply costs may increase initially as you establish new methods of service and stock multiple kitchens or kitchenettes in the facility. A corresponding decrease in supplies needed in the main production kitchen will level out the supply budget over time, again maintaining budget neutrality.
Equipment costs may similarly increase initially as new preparation and service methodologies are implemented, but again, will correspondingly decrease in main kitchen equipment replacement and repair.
Labor costs can be held budget-neutral following the initial confusion of transitioning to new serving styles. No facility can absorb a labor increase in today’s tight reimbursement systems, so gather your creativity, learn from those who have gone before you, tap currently under utilized staff minutes from ancillary departments and then take the big step – you can introduce dining enhancements without increasing staff in your facility.
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