Foodservice

Everyone needs to eat and meals are often an enjoyable part of life. Foodservice teams not only provide an essential service but contribute significantly to the quality of life of the people living in their community.

Server

Create a positive dining experience for the residents in the dining room or in their residence.

Servers help ensure residents have a positive dining experience by providing timely and friendly delivery of food and beverages in the dining room or to their residence. They may assist residents with cutting up food or other dining tasks requested by the dietician or assist with recording food and beverage intake.

Start right away with no previous experience and gain experience in hospitality and foodservice with regular and consistent work hours and benefits.

Typical Activities

  • Takes resident meal orders if applicable.
  • Deliver meals to residents in the dining room or to their residence.
  • Help residents with cutting up food, if needed or other tasks as requested.
  • Prepares the dining room for dining services.
  • Clears dirty dishes and utensils.
  • Maintain the cleanliness and appearance of the dining room.

Certification & Licensing

  • Food Handler Certification from a provider approved by the Oregon Health Authority

Skills

  • Customer service
  • Efficiency
  • Multi-tasking
  • Patience
  • Teamwork

Care Settings

  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Residential Care
  • Skilled Nursing

Also Known As

  • Dietary Aide
  • Food Service Support Staff
  • Waiter

Current Opportunities

Dishwasher

Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, and kitchen equipment and maintain a clean and safe environment.

Dishwashers ensure everything needed in the kitchen and for dining services is clean and sanitized. They are responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitary work environment including the kitchen, prep areas, and dining room.

Start working in a kitchen with no prior experience and build the knowledge and skills to become a cook or explore other roles in the community.

Typical Activities

  • Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, and kitchen equipment.
  • Sort and put away clean items.
  • Clean and maintain the kitchen, food prep, and areas.
  • Support dining services.

Certification & Licensing

  • Food Handler Certification from a provider approved by the Oregon Health Authority

Skills

  • Cleanliness
  • Efficiency

Care Settings

  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Residential Care
  • Skilled Nursing

Current Opportunities

Cook

Following recipes planned by the Food Service Director or Chef utilizing common cooking techniques and food safety practices to safely prepare meals for the residents.

Cooks prepare meals and follow recipes planned by the Food Service Director or Executive Chef. The ensure food is safely prepared, handled, and stored and provide quality assurance in the kitchen. They maintain a clean and safe work environment and minimize safety hazards.

Working as a cook in a long-term care community offer the opportunity to gain experience and build your culinary skills while working regular hours with a dependable schedule and benefits.

Typical Activities

  • Process and prepare ingredients.
  • Prepare meals according to recipes.
  • Follow food safety practices at all times.
  • Maintain a clean and sanitary work environment and equipment.
  • Ensure supplies are stocked as needed.
  • Follow dietary specifications and preferences.

Certification & Licensing

  • Food Handler Certification from a provider approved by the Oregon Health Authority

Skills

  • Cleanliness
  • Efficiency
  • Food safety
  • Multi-tasking
  • Teamwork

Care Settings

  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Residential Care
  • Skilled Nursing

Current Opportunities

Executive Chef

Manage the kitchen team and oversee the daily operations of the kitchen to ensure high-quality meals that offer choice, variety, and promote a good quality of life.

Executive chefs are the head of the kitchen and lead the foodservice team. They are responsible for planning and delivering high-quality delicious and nutritious meals that offer residents variety and choice. By providing home-like and restaurant-style dining with flexible dining options, they help residents feel comfortable and at home in the community.

Chefs keep residents safe by ensuring food safety standards are followed at all times and kitchen facilities and equipment are sanitary and well maintained. They provide training, training, supervision, and support to foodservice staff to help them provide quality service for the residents.

Many chefs like the regular work hours, dependable schedule, and benefits offered by long-term care communities and the reward of contributing to providing residents a good quality of life.

Typical Activities

  • Plan meals and develop menus.
  • Hire, train, and supervise foodservice staff.
  • Assure food safety practices are followed.
  • Manage food and supplies inventory.
  • Maintain a clean and sanitary work environment and equipment.
  • Learn resident dietary needs and preferences.

Qualifications

  • To enter a career as a chef in long-term care, you will typically need a high school diploma plus some experience. Some employers may require a certification from a culinary program or technical school, culinary arts school, or 4-year college.

Certification & Licensing

  • Food Handler Certification from a provider approved by the Oregon Health Authority

Skills

  • Creativity
  • Customer service
  • Food safety
  • Leadership
  • Meal Planning
  • Multi-tasking
  • Older Adult Nutrition
  • Teamwork

Care Settings

  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Residential Care
  • Skilled Nursing

Also Known As

  • Chef
  • Head Chef
  • Lead Chef

Current Opportunities

Registered Dietitian

Help residents maintain optimum health and quality of life by planning personalized diets that provide proper nutrition and offer choice and variety.

Registered Dietitians know the importance of nutrition and the significant impact food has on how well body systems function. In long-term care, dietitians are responsible for making sure the nutritional needs of each resident are met in a way that optimizes their health, offers variety, and promotes a good quality of life.

Dietitians participate in person-centered resident care planning and work closely with residents and their families to understand individual dietary needs and food preferences. They determine the safest texture and delivery of food and liquids and provide training and guidance to foodservice staff.

Becoming a long-term care dietitian is a popular career choice for those interested in health, nutrition, and wellness. In long-term care, dietitians have a daily impact on the quality of life of the residents.

Typical Activities

  • Participate in resident care planning.
  • Engage with residents and their families.
  • Create therapeutic diets and menus.
  • Encourage person-centered care.
  • Prevent dehydration and malnutrition.
  • Participate in quality assurance.
  • Coordinate resident care with other care providers.

Licensing Requirements

  • Obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States with a major course of study approved by the Board of Licensed Dietitians in human nutrition, dietetics, foods and nutrition or food systems management.
  • Complete a planned, continuous program of dietetic experience approved by the Health Licensing Office (HLO) of 900 hours under the supervision of a licensed dietitian.
  • Pass the competency examination administered by the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR).
  • Registered dietitians are licensed and regulated by the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Licensing Office Board of Licensed Dietitians.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher with a major in food, nutrition, food service management.

Skills

  • Communication
  • Evaluation
  • Organization
  • Planning

Care Settings

  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Residential Care
  • Skilled Nursing

Current Opportunities