February 2023

Institutional or Innovative?

What the setting of a congregate 

meal site says to guests

The setting in which guests eat their meals can 

make or break the overall experience and can 

ultimately be the reason why a guest participates 

or not. It is important to evaluate if programs are 

truly serving guests in a way that makes them feel 

comfortable and welcome, as well as makes them 

want to return again and again. Sometimes, a little 

innovation can take a meal site from “drab” to 

“fab!”

What is in a name?

How a meal program is referred to can influence 

if guests want to try it or not. Many traditional 

meal program names (congregate meal 

program, senior center meal, home delivered 

meals) may make people think of dull and 

depressing environments and are not likely to 

draw in a crowd. Choosing a fresh name may 

make a meal site more inviting and exciting for 

potential guests. Ideas for names include:

• Meet and Eat

• Café Fresh

• Encore Café

• Café 60

• Bistro Sixty

• My Meal, My Way

The Best Time to Shine (and Dine!)

Having the flexibility to dine when it is convenient 

is enticing for guests. Flexible meal hours can 

help solve generational differences, especially for 

those who cannot attend during the traditional 

lunch hour. Some options to consider:

• Offer the meal at new, different, or for 

extended times. This can help guests who 

need flexibility due to being in the workforce, 

active with other activities, or caretakers for 

loved ones.

• Consider serving a meal other than lunch. 

Some programs find that offering breakfast 

and/or an evening meal has increased 

participation.

• Schedule meal times directly before or 

directly after popular activities such as 

exercise classes, art classes, or something 

else that the community enjoys. If guests plan 

to attend an activity, they may also find it 

convenient to grab a meal as well.

Welcoming Whereabouts

It is best to help ensure guests can both access their 

environment and also feel comfortable. Only then 

will they want to take part in the meal and suggest 

others join. Ensure everyone feels welcome: 

• Consider the guest’s perspective. Do current and 

potential guests ‘see themselves’ reflected in the 

environment? Does the environment of the meal 

site and the materials promoting the meal reflect 

the diversity of the community?

» Ensure the images used on the website, in 

flyers/brochures, and on walls, etc. reflect 

diverse individuals.

» Avoid decorating for only the holidays 

celebrated by the majority. Become educated 

on other holidays that are celebrated in the 

community.

» A rainbow sticker at the entrance door can 

message that the meal site is a safe and 

welcoming space for individuals of all gender 

identities and sexual orientations.

• Scan the environment for any physical barriers to 

participation by adults of all abilities.

» Is there enough clearance for easy navigation 

with a scooter, walker, wheelchair, cane etc.?

» Do tables have dining spaces where a 

wheelchair can pull up, without having to ask 

for a chair to be moved aside?
Elevate the Experience

A few simple touches can do wonders for making a 

space feel more inviting. Small, low-cost efforts can 

bring a space back to life. 

• Partner with a local school’s art or design 

department to brainstorm ideas and possibly 

contribute time and talent to brightening the 

meal site.

• Just ask! In some areas, a capital campaign 

to improve a site’s appearance has been very 

successful. Donors respond well to requests for 

specific needs. Consider asking for donations of 

or funds to purchase:

» wallpaper and 

paint

» tables and chairs

» light fixtures

» curtains

» tablecloths

» dishes

» kitchen equipment

» landscaping 

materials

» transportation 

vehicles etc.

• Partner with a local school for live music. Whether 

from a college, junior college, high school, or 

middle school, share the talents of local youth 

with guests at your dining location.

• Work with a local florist to see if they would be 

willing to donate fresh flowers can no longer be 

sold. Flowers can be placed on each table or near 

the entrance to the site.

• Utilize a volunteer as a greeter. Having a 

welcoming face greeting guests can make them 

feel at ease, especially if they are new.

• Host a “Singles” meal or event as an opportunity 

for new guests who may not know other 

participants. It gives the guests a chance to 

connect and feel socially included at the meal 

site.

• Work with a chef or local culinary arts program 

at a high school or university to transform the 

program’s menu. Food that is perceived by 

guests as higher quality will often bring in higher 

voluntary contribution amounts.

» If you are looking to add a new menu item(s), 

host a sampling event. Your guests are the 

ones eating, so their feedback will be the most 

important in helping you make decisions!

Think Outside the Box...

....Or even outside the traditional meal site. 

Innovation can transform a program into 

something new and fresh.

• Change up traditional serving methods. Most 

people enjoy eating out at restaurants and 

cafés. Bring that same feel to meal programs:

» Utilize printed menus that are colorful and 

interesting to look at.

» Create an internet café with computers for 

use by guests, if possible.

» Offer chalkboard menus which can 

easily be updated and reflect what many 

restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops in the 

community use.

» Create a café feel with coffee always 

available for purchase. The additional 

revenue could be utilized to expand 

programming, promote the center, etc. 

» Opening a breakfast club may just be the 

socialization (and meal) that some guests 

want.

» Set tables with lemon slices in water 

glasses.

» When enough volunteer help is available, 

encourage servers to pour drinks/coffee 

while chatting with the guests, just like a 

restaurant server would.

» Serving plates like a restaurant or buffetstyle instead of calling guests by table can 

feel less institutional-like.

» Allow takeout boxes for left-overs (with 

appropriate food safety information) if 

local/state food code permits.

» A plate that looks appealing is more 

enjoyable. Use real plates when possible, 

and ensure the food looks nice by adding 

garnishes, wiping away any spills from the 

edge of plates, etc.
Think Outside the Box Continued

• Consider taking meal service outside the traditional meal site! 

Instead, try going mobile.

» Food trucks are a popular choice not only because they 

are trendy, but they can move from place to place, 

serving guests that may otherwise be limited by access to 

transportation.

» Find where potential guests like to gather in the 

community and go to them! Whether with a food truck 

or simply serving a more traditional congregate meal in 

a new space, find the people. Some programs have had 

success serving at:

* Libraries

* Life-long learning centers

* Garden shelter spaces (in nice weather)

* Nature centers

* If you are not sure, ask the community where older 

adults like to gather.

» Explore opportunities for intergenerational dining. This 

gives the opportunity for younger diners to join traditional 

meal guests and is especially beneficial for caregivers 

60 and better who care for those younger than 60. Plus, 

bringing together different groups of people to socialize 

and learn from each other can really benefit everyone. It is 

important to remember that meals for participants under 

60 years old would need to be funded by a source other 

than Older Americans Act Title III C.

» A restaurant voucher program may be the perfect way to 

meet guests where they are! The restaurant already has 

the venue, the food, the staff, and likely the customers. 

By working closely with a Registered Dietitian to ensure 

the menu items offered meet nutrition requirements, the 

local café or restaurant can serve guests who qualify for a 

congregate meal and be reimbursed for the meal. 

Tap the Talents

Meal participants bring a lifetime of skills, talents, ideas and community 

connections with them. Tap into guests when seeking to implement 

improvements such as those suggested above. Ask what improvements 

can be made and how. You are among artists, musicians, teachers, 

cooks, handy-people, etc. Value their ability to contribute to your efforts. 

Ask staff and volunteers what they think could elevate the space as 

well. Those that are most connected likely have great suggestions for 

improvement. 

Knowing which changes guests need or desire is just the beginning to 

creating the ultimate meal site. Make a plan and follow through on ideas 

expressed. Taking the steps to make your meal site “fab” will pay off for 

the program and meal guests alike. 

This project was supported in part by grant number 90PPNU0002 from the U.S. Administration 

for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. 

Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express 

freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily 

represent official ACL policy.