Retirement living operators and residents are always formulating ideas to make life better.
In 2021, land lease operator Palm Lake Resorts launched a resident meal voucher system to try and help create a community at its over 50s lifestyle resorts – and it works across all 27 sites.
The deal is for one voucher offer per week for residents living at its communities and includes a two-course meal at lunch or dinner.
In a tour of the NSW Central Coast, Newcastle and Port Stephens, DCM Group visited Palm Lake Resort Fern Bay and were welcomed by caretaker Ron Payne and he shared how successful the meal voucher system is.
“It has helped create a community. There were 80 residents in attendance last night,” he said.
“It has broken down barriers. The residents sit together, there are conversations across tables, and everyone thoroughly enjoys it.”
Palm Lake Resort Fern Bay has meals four times a week. Tuesday dinner, Wednesday lunch and Thursday dinner are a set two-course menu. Friday is Bistro day, where chef Wayne creates meals from the week’s leftovers.
“We can sit up to 116 residents at each sitting with Thursday being the most popular,” said Ron.
“Each villa receives 52 meal vouchers for the year. If they run out of vouchers, the cost is $13 per diner per sitting.”
What a great initiative.