Monte Vista Grove Homes Transforms Its Dining Space
Transforming dining spaces invigorates the community with modern concepts & venue variety
Greater opportunity for interactions between team members and residents increases satisfaction
Communication, collaboration and responsiveness produces successful outcomes
Managing a successful dining program is a challenging feat, and the nuances and aspects that coincide with a full renovation and service restructuring can make it even more arduous. Through collaboration, the partnership between MVGH and Unidine resulted in a successful dining space transformation that invigorated the community with modern living concepts and venue variety.
In the everchanging senior living landscape, there are fresh opportunities for communities to align their vision with the desires of their clientele. For Monte Vista Grove Homes (MVGH) in Pasadena, CA, it’s about offering a holistic and vibrant senior community.
In addition to a fresh approach to menu development, a collaborative hospitality partnership with Unidine reinforced the possibility of a dining space transformation that would welcome more diversified experiences.
MVGH was looking to move away from the cookie-cutter approach that is often presented to senior living communities and start to offer residents more variety and a place for gathering amongst friends. Unidine’s experts offered a tailored approach to meet the specific needs of the community, helping to minimize the stress of managing a dining program while improving overall resident satisfaction.
Unidine has been an essential partner in helping us go from a closed dining room during the pandemic to re-opening in a beautiful, new, updated space. They participated and supported us every step of the way and even attended our grand re-opening!
Deborah Herbert, M.S.
CEO | Monte Vista Grove Homes
Dining programs are so much more than just three meals a day with a rotating menu. It is a time for residents to convene and enjoy good food in an environment that is not only inviting but fitted to create positive experiences.
When the dining space was shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic, Deborah Herbert, M.S., CEO of Monte Vista Grove Homes, recognized it as an opportunity to rethink and reimagine the way in which the residents experienced their meals. As residents were aging, it was noticeable that it was becoming more difficult for them to carry their trays from the buffet to their table, especially if they used an assistive device such as a cane or walker.
Converting to a tableside dining experience was now a consideration, but managing a successful dining program is a feat in its own, never mind the details that coincide with a full renovation and service restructuring.
Partnering with Unidine, a CCL brand, provided more than just improved menu offerings—it brought forth the resources of CCL, including a highly specialized design team that took inspiration from Deborah’s vision and brought it to life.
From the first stages of planning to the grand opening, the team leveraged their expertise and access to resources to develop a plan and oversee that project, including construction and build, small wares selection and furniture purchasing. The team was able to integrate supply chain solutions to provide superior options for décor at better prices.
Once the dining space was open, team members received hands-on training in service and hospitality. The team was able to pivot with ease and grace—moving on from serving in to-go containers to an elevated tableside dining and restaurant service model.
Unidine has adapted to who we are as a community rather than tell us who we should be.
Deborah Herbert, M.S.
CEO | Monte Vista Grove Homes
As residents transition and age in place, from independent living to assisted, having newly implemented tableside dining brings a dignified experience and renewed sense of energy back to the community. A remodel allowed the addition of both indoor and outdoor dining spaces, while implementing a more interactive and integrated experience for both the guests and team members.
The newly added outdoor dining space eliminates the sense of being confined to the same space day-in and day-out, creating a greater independence and a space that encourages social engagement and wellbeing. Keeping with the holistic vision that the community seeks to uphold, it allows the residents to enjoy enhanced amenities and the beauty of the environment around them.
