Did you know there is a difference between service and hospitality?

Hospitality focuses on making you feel welcome and comfortable. Whereas customer service centers on meeting needs and solving problems. It takes both in MBK Senior Living communities to be the senior living provider of choice in the markets we serve. In honor of National Waitstaff Day, learn how MBK residents experience this unique blend of service and hospitality daily in our restaurant-style dining rooms!

"In senior living, there is an expectation of service. In MBK Senior Living communities, we aim to exceed expectations and achieve that through hospitality," said Matt Perez, National Director of Dining Services of MBK Senior Living. "While it is practiced throughout our communities, we emphasize hospitality in training our culinary and dining room team."

At MBK Senior Living, culinary and dining room team members have access to a continuing education program called The Pineapple Academy. The program offers a range of instructional videos, including culinary, dietetics and nutrition, operations, and regulatory lessons that promote a hospitality culture that works to "anticipate the needs of the individual."

"Our waitstaff know more than just our residents' names. They take time to learn their preferences and dietary needs to recommend menu items," said Perez. "But the true hospitality comes with prompt service, taking the time to listen to a story or hear about a resident's day, and ensuring they are well-fed and cared for before they leave the dining room."

This blend of service and hospitality shows. As part of the company's annual customer satisfaction survey provided to all residents and their families, 90% of respondents said the dining room staff was friendly.

One respondent wrote, "I love the servers! They make the residents' lives so much happier, and it's obvious they really care. Special diets, whether short-term for a medical reason or longer-term, are easy to request and always accommodated. They treat all residents as family and do whatever it takes to make them feel at home."

Another wrote, "The food is good, and the menu gives a lot of choices. The staff are friendly and inviting for the residents to sit and enjoy their meal. The staff knows everyone's name makes them feel very comfortable."

If you'd like to experience MBK hospitality, we invite you to schedule a private tour and enjoy a complimentary lunch – served up with a smile by our excellent dining room waitstaff.