Agape Senior Assisted Living Rock Hill Displays Culinary Skills

Agapé Senior Residents enjoyed an excursion around the world without ever leaving their community. Dietary Chef, Patti Petersen along with her staff prepared unique culinary dishes that spanned over ten countries.Manicotti with fresh basil from Italy, authentic Yue (Guangdong, Cantonese) from China, and Ratatouille from the Provence region of Southeastern France were just a few of the choices available to sample.

In addition to the variety of culinary delights, the Life Enrichment staff transformed the dining room using flags of each country represented. The flags and other decorations added to the international feel.

Administrator, Laney Whittle stated “Each resident in our community has a unique background that has been influenced by the geographical area and culture they grew up in. Our goal for this event was to have some fun by representing through food as many of those cultural backgrounds as possible. We are always on the lookout for ways to encourage our residents to socialize, and sharing stories while sharing a special meal is a perfect venue”

Agape Senior CEO and Author, Scott Middleton in his book Parent Talk, echoes this relationship between eating and socialization in his chapter on diet and nutrition when he writes “Meal times are a social experience in our society. We surround ourselves with family, friends and food and we interact in the process of consuming our meal. Without this social element, it is easy for a senior to lose interest in eating or lose their appetite altogether”

If you would like to know more about the programs, education and services available through Agape Senior in the Rock Hill area please contact Kegan Kelly, (SSA) Senior Solution Advisor. (803) 207-8000 or email kkegan@agapesenior.com

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle

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 Agape Senior West Columbia recently hosted an elegant luncheon for the Miss Teen South Carolina contestants along with their Grandmothers. When the girls arrived they were seated in the Villas resident dining room where the tables had been prepared with white table cloths, cloth napkins and beautiful glass bowls filled with white, blue and purple hydrangeas.

 The light summer meal prepared by Agape Senior Catering and Culinary was as colorful as it was delicious and consisted of fresh fruit, tuna salad on a bed of lettuce, multi-color pasta salad and lemon poppy seed muffin. A creamy dessert with raspberry drizzle completed the meal.

 Barry James, administrator, along with Lauren Tolcher, Senior Solution Advisor, for the community were both on-hand to welcome the guests and explain a little bit about the history of Agape and about some of the innovative programs that have been implemented to enhance quality of life for their residents.

 After lunch the contestants were given an opportunity to visit with the senior residents. Everyone seemed to love the extra attention from the young women and many residents collected multiple autographed pictures.

 Agape Senior was a 2012 sponsor of the Miss Teen South Carolina pageant and believes that it is important to be involved in the communities in which it serves. "We love any activity that enhances the quality of our resident’s lives and enjoyed having the beautiful and talented Miss Teen contestants during their visit. It was heart-warming watching the young women sharing laughter and stories with our senior residents" stated Barry James.

  West Columbia South Carolina Assisted Living Assisted Living of West Columbia provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. West Columbia, Cayce, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Springdale SC. – Call Agape Senior Assisted Living West Columbia at (803) 939-3000 or (800) 411-2427

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Columbia Assisted Living Trains Chefs to Enhance Resident Dining Experience

Seasoned pork tenderloin sizzles in an ironskillet; large pots over low flames emit exotic spice aromas as sauces simmer within, plus the sound of chopping vegetables and fruit all added to the rhythm of the preparation.

This was the scene recently at Agapé Senior—Kathwood as Michael Fusco, executive chef for Agapé Senior, hosted the first in a series of culinary trainings for Agapé sous-chefs from across the state. These chefs-in-training not only received valuable instruction from an experienced chef, but also actually assisted in preparing many Holiday favorites for a party being catered later that evening for over 250 guests.

Chef Michael’s goal that day was to provide the culinary staff with new menu options along with helping them improve their food presentation skills. All to reach the ultimate goal of enhancing the dining experience for the residents of all the Agapé communities.

It may not look like it, but there is precision and order amongst the chaos of a busy commercial kitchen. The crisp lines of the chefs’ uniforms, the shiny stainless steel appliances and prep tables, along with neatly stacked inventories of food are all a part of the atmosphere. Each sous-chef was concentrating on a different task as Chef Michael supervised and helped coordinate the timing, decoration, and completion of the party trays, which included stuffed mushrooms, hummus, pork tenderloin, and several Holiday sauces along with an array of delicious dessert selections. Each dish must meet Chef Michael’s high standards before it’s considered “ready.”

The chefs and culinary staff of Agapé Senior want every meal enjoyed by residents, friends, and family to be a memorable dining experience. “We want each meal to be healthy and nutritious,but also pleasurable where taste, smell, and presentation all play a part. With these trainings, we all can make that happen every day,” remarked Chef Michael.

The seven-month series will continue on January 3, 2012 and will feature how to prepare homemade soups, stews, and chili for the winter season. If you would like more information, you can e-mail Agapé Catering and Culinary at ACC@AgapeSenior.com.
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Agapé Senior Assisted Living Garden City Rolls out Red Carpet for Residents

Imagine bringing your Grandmother into an assisted living community on her very first day. Now imagine the moment she enters the front door being immediately greeted by several staff members who welcome her to her new home with a red carpet rolled out for her entrance. You can see the love,kindness and joy in the eyes of the staff as they welcome her home.

Now picture the administrator giving your Grandmother a personal tour of the community and pointing out key places where she will most likely want to frequent. Then imagine her going to her room and finding her door covered with balloons and her new family, the neighboring residents, there to welcome her to her new home in Agape Senior’s Assisted Living in Garden City.

There is only one person that makes this kind of magic happen daily in Garden City. Meet JoAnn. JoAnn is the Life Enrichment Coordinator for the Garden City, community. This is what she expects from herself on a daily basis…and achieves. From the moment every new resident enters the door at Agapé Senior Assisted Living in Garden City, JoAnn coordinates a “red carpet experience.”

Now take a peek at the rest of your Grandmother’s first day. What a surprise she has when she realizes that she does not even have time to sit in her room because the first activity is starting; it is her first game of Bunco. Soon after, she finds one of the many newspapers available throughout the community and a new friend to talk with about current events. Suddenly the smell of beef tips over rice catch Grandma’s attention. Her new friend and she head to the dining room with JoAnn leading them along with a smile. Grandma is pleased when she samples the culinary delights that the Agapé chef has prepared!

Right after lunch, members of a local church come by and Grandma joins in a sing-a-long. She sings her heart out to her favorite hymns along with 40 of her new neighbors. Before dinner, Grandma enjoys one of Garden City’s famous “happy hours” where she sips a cool beverage while listening to live music. Then a delicious dinner is served, and Grandma ends her first day with a smile.

JoAnn makes every day for every resident in the community as festive and happy as Grandma’s first day. You might say she has a magic touch. She certainly has an overflowing heart and a passion for bringing joy to the elderly. Bringing a loved one to assisted living can be an ordeal or a celebration. People like JoAnn make it a celebration. Want to find out more? Come to Agape Senior Assisted Living in Garden City and ask for JoAnn!

Chris Little



Garden City /Murrells Inlet South Carolina Assisted Living

Assisted Living of GardenCity provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and theirfamilies, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracingindividuality and preserving dignity. Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, MyrtleBeach, Pawley’s Island, Socastee, Bucksport, Burgess SC. – Call Agape SeniorGarden City at 843-357-0200 or 800-411-2427