Dietary group meets at Sunny Hill to learn about resident-centered care, buffet dining

JOLIET – Salmon was served with a side of knowledge, and chocolate pie was topped with answers when the Dietary Managers Association met at Sunny Hill Skilled Rehab Center on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

For the second time in as many months, an organization met at Sunny Hill to learn how the facility is incorporating resident-centered care, also called the Pioneer movement, and about Sunny Hill’s buffet dining system.

In September, the Illinois Pioneer Coalition held its monthly meeting at the county-owned nursing facility and joined residents for breakfast.

At the October event, approximately 40 dietary and kitchen managers from agencies throughout Northeastern Illinois dined at a special buffet provided by Gordon Food Services.

Bonita Dodson, Sunny Hill kitchen manager, said it was because of a GFS employee, Stephen Wood, a customer development specialist for healthcare, that the dietary group’s day-long meeting was held in Joliet.

Wood said Janice Braun, food services director at Anchorage of Beecher and association president, was interested in learning more about the Pioneer Network and buffet dining. Since he had helped Dodson find resources before the Dec. 7 launch of Sunny Hill’s system, he knew Dodson had answers.

He connected the two and the pieces fell into place. GFS offered to prepare and serve food. Other company leaders also came to Joliet for the event.

Putting interested members of the dietary group together with people already involved with resident-centered care and buffet dining was “a perfect match.”

The majority of those who attended are from nursing homes, and they were treated to more than the tables-long variety of food. They heard from Dodson; Paula Hall, Sunny Hill dietician; Becky Haldorson, assistant administrator and facilitator for the regional Pioneer Network organization; and Karen Sorbero, Sunny Hill administrator.

Sorbero was pleased to showcase the facility. “We are happy to share what we know and what we’ve done with anyone who is interested.

“We are excited about resident-centered care and making this a true ‘home’ for the people who live here.”