Rosebridge program has been a ‘slice’
Tuesday October 16, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
A pizza-making program run by Rosebridge Manor’s nutritional care and life enrichment departments has been a hit with residents of the Jasper long-term care home for several years, says Kori Bigelow.

Bigelow, the home’s nutritional care manager, says the monthly pizza-making program not only gets residents involved with something they enjoy and gives them a sense of self-satisfaction, it also alleviates pressure for the kitchen staff.

The day before the pizza program, kitchen staff makes the dough which proofs overnight. The next day, a few residents and nutritional care staff will chop ingredients, including meats, veggies and pineapple, which are separated into different bowls.

The residents then add pizza sauce, toppings and cheese before putting the pies in the oven.

“It’s really great, because we have two dining rooms and they make it for both rooms,” says Bigelow. “Often times the cook will get compliments (from staff) on how good the pizza looks, and the cook will always say, ‘Thank your residents. They’re the ones who made it.’”

And which types of pizza do residents like best?

“You name it: pepperoni, onions, pineapple — they just jazz them up and load them. (The pizzas) are heavy,” jokes Bigelow.

There are two residents’ choice meals each month at the home. Residents are asked what they’d like to have for dinner, and pizza usually tops the list, says Bigelow.

“They ask for pizza because they’re involved,” she says. “They love it.”

In fact, the program has been so successful that when OMNI asked its 16 long-term care homes to purchase pre-made pizzas, Bigelow insisted Rosebridge be exempt because the pizza program had been such a success.

“I spoke up and said, ‘Because it’s such a good program at our home, can we continue to do it?’ and home office really supported that,” recalls Bigelow.

Bigelow says she doesn’t know of any other OMNI home with a similar program, but highly recommends the idea to anyone interested.