Juniper Village "All Day Dining" receives PALA Keystone Award

In its first-ever Keystone Awards, the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association (PALA) presented Juniper Village at Forest Hills with its Best Practice of the Year 2019 award for its All Day Dining program. The award recognizes personal care and assisted living communities that create innovative programs or unique approaches to providing the best services possible to their residents, employees, guests, and local community.

Knowing the importance of the dining experience, Juniper Village at Forest Hill took on the daunting task of providing a restaurant-style atmosphere in its community through all day menu options by implementing “The H’art and Soul of Dining” or “All Day Dining.” Ken Miller, Director of Dietary Services and Executive Director Janet Wangler, coordinated the change which included adopting a menu that encompasses food items that meet the wide range of options most requested by the residents. All Day Breakfast became an option, as well as all day appetizers, salads, sandwiches, main entrée items, side dishes, desserts, and an assortment of beverages that includes wine and beer. All menu options can be prepared based on the resident’s dietary restrictions; and, heart healthy entrees are identified on the menu with a heart symbol. He strives to use in-season produce and farm stand items for a burst of flavor. Chef Miller explained that to make the expansion of the menu possible, the kitchen had to be reconfigured and set up like a restaurant with a prep station.

The impact on the residents has been very positive. One resident’s family member said, “Now my father can sleep in when he desires and not have to worry about missing mealtime, and still be provided a full service of offerings on his terms.”

All Keystone award recipients will be honored at the opening welcome session of the PALA Fall Conference on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. A reception that evening will celebrate their accomplishments.

Juniper Village at Forest Hills is located at 107 Fall Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221.

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About Juniper Communities, LLC
Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value and innovation in seniors housing, operates communities in New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania and Colorado that emphasize residents’ comfort, interaction and security. Our approach to housing and care offers residents the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve residents’ care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of our residents, please contact us at junipercommunities.com or 973.661.8300.