The San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (SFCJL) is embarking on a unique project to engage memory care residents in their culinary program through a special partnership. Collaborating with the Atlantic Fellows for Equity and Brain Health (AFEBH), SFCJL will use food and family recipes to stimulate memories and foster social connections.
Together, AFEBH fellows Jake Broder and Zach Bandler will work with five memory care residents to host a dinner party where they will share dishes from their past with residents and families.
Director of Marketing Angela Ingel explains that the partnership aims to help SFCJL’s culinary teams work with residents to unlock meaningful memories related to food, socialization, and camaraderie for those living with dementia.
Staff at SFCJL will guide eligible memory care residents in preparing a five-course meal based on their own recipes in test kitchens over the next two weeks, allowing residents to actively participate in the creation of the menu.
By involving residents in discussions about their favorite foods, flavors, and cuisines, the community hopes to tap into the powerful memories triggered by taste and smell to create a truly meaningful experience for residents.
Bolstered by the fellowship with AFEBH, SFCJL plans to further enhance its culinary program through increased staff training, improved hiring practices, and exploring advancements in technology such as virtual reality to provide immersive experiences for memory care residents.
As memory care facilities shift towards more personalized, engaging, and educational culinary programs to improve the quality of life for those with dementia, SFCJL’s innovative approach stands out as a promising way to rekindle memories through the sharing of family recipes.
