Innovative Senior Restaurant Dining –A Recipe for Success

While the older adult population continues to age and grow in numbers, congregate dining services in AgeGuide’s 8-county region have experienced a decline in participation. This change began prior to the COVID pandemic and was further exacerbated when all community dining sites were required to shut down to mitigate COVID exposure for older adult participants.

As the new fiscal year was approaching, it was evident that community dining programs in the region required rejuvenation. Rebuilding Title IIIC-1 Congregate Dining services in the wake of the pandemic was at the top of the list for AgeGuide.

AgeGuide was thrilled when the owner of Lori’s Restaurant agreed to pilot the region’s first Senior Dine restaurant program, which launched in November 2021. Lori’s Restaurant is located in downtown Kankakee and is easily accessible to the older adults in the community. There are several benefits to older adults participating in this restaurant program including menu choice, time flexibility, and social connection. One restaurant program participant said,

“This is a truly wonderful program that gives me a chance to get out and socialize, which I would not have a chance to do otherwise. The food is so wonderful, and the service is always a delight.”

The restaurant program in Kankakee County has remained open through a variety of circumstances from COVID-19 mitigations and inclement weather, to holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas, providing a hot meal, good company, and community connections even when traditional community dining sites were closed.

Participants of this program have a variety of meals to choose from which are approved by a Licensed Registered Dietitian to meet onethird of their daily nutrition requirements.

Another restaurant program participant shared, “Lori’s Restaurant is a terrific place to eat. The senior menu selections are ample and varied. The owners and staff make a huge effort to be welcoming. It’s a pleasure to dine here.”

The older adults participating in the restaurant program are allowed to dine at any time during the restaurant’s hours of operations, allowing them to eat when it’s convenient for them.

Since this restaurant pilot in Kankakee is such a success, AgeGuide intends to expand the program to each of its counties, allowing even more communities to benefit. An Innovations in Nutrition Programs grant, funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), will support AgeGuide’s expansion of this innovative program across the region. Follow AgeGuide on social media to keep up with new restaurant dining locations as they open.

ori’s estaurant is a terri c place to eat.

The senior menu selections are ample and varied. The owners and staff make a huge effort to be welcoming. It’s a pleasure to dine here.”