Tips from Trestle: The Senior Living Food and Hospitality Podcast

Aaron Fish
  • 5.0 (4)
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  • Updated Weekly

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food, hospitality, & the community experience. Hosted by THE Hospitality Executive to the Senior Living Industry Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about food & beverage operations, community & resident experiences, and trends & happenings in the senior living industry. To be considered as a guest for TFT, please send an email to info@trestlehc.com Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: - eMenuCHOICE POS - Clark Pro - DiningRD Trestle Tactics is sponsored by - Gordon Food Service

  1. Jul 14

    Pages Built for Brain Change | Ep. 520

    Are the books and magazines in your lobby designed for the brains you actually serve—or for the people who picked them out years ago? In this episode of Tips from Trestle, Aaron talks with Mindful Libraries co-creators Nikki Jardin and Laurette Klier to explore how dementia-friendly reading can transform resident engagement in senior living communities. They share the deeply personal stories behind Mirador Magazine and Nana’s Books, born from caring for loved ones with young onset Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia who suddenly lost access to the magazines, newspapers, and novels they once loved. You’ll hear how accessible design, Atkinson Hyperlegible fonts, thick paper, and thoughtfully curated images make it possible for people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment to enjoy reading again. Nikki and Laurette describe the Mindful Library concept: a beautiful, always-available reading nook that shifts activity programming from “doing” to “being,” creating organic, heart-centered connections over coffee, charcuterie, and conversation. They also share what it meant to see their publications used as teaching tools at Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care training, validating the impact Mindful Libraries can have for operators, caregivers, and families. If you’re a senior living operator, activity professional, dementia caregiver, or public librarian looking to enhance engagement, this episode offers practical ideas for building inclusive, resident-centered reading experiences that feel like home Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOxDining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100 #TFT520 #SeniorLiving #DementiaCare #AlzheimersAwareness #CognitiveWellbeing #ResidentExperience #MemoryCare #PositiveApproachToCare #EdenAlternative #AgingWithDignity #CaregiverSupport #InclusiveDesign #ReminiscenceTherapy #EngagedAging #DementiaFriendly #SeniorLivingFoodAndHospitality #TipsFromTrestle #ElevateTheExperience

    Pages Built for Brain Change | Ep. 520

  2. Jul 6

    The Middleman Myth: What GPOs Really Do | Ep. 519

    Host Aaron Fish welcomes Jeff Webb, Senior Manager of Business Development at HealthTrust Performance Group, to explore how senior living operators can maximize GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) and food distributor partnerships to lower food costs and elevate dining programs. Jeff shares a real-world case where a multi-property operator cut food spend by nearly 6% through smarter, quality-first purchasing decisions, while transforming their menu into a restaurant-style experience. The two dispel the "middleman" myth, explain why salary-based GPO reps are incentivized purely to find savings, and dive into how tiered rebate structures work in practice. Listeners also get insight into texture-modified diets, Mediterranean diet menu trends, and dining-with-dementia strategies drawn from Jeff's personal caregiving experience. Perfect for dining directors, executive directors, and administrators evaluating whether a GPO partnership is right for their community — with no long-term contract required.

    The Middleman Myth: What GPOs Really Do | Ep. 519

  3. Jun 30

    RE-RELEASE: From Table to Tour | Tips from Trestle, Ep. 518

    In this throwback episode, host Aaron Fish reunites with Shawn McGregor — Senior Executive Chef at Healthcare Services Group — to continue the conversation from their standout panel at the Florida Senior Living Association conference. Sean oversees culinary and systems training across more than 2,000 kitchens in 48 states, making him one of the most experienced culinary voices in senior care. In this conversation, Aaron and Shawn cover: training dining staff with storytelling rather than just technique, the engagement power of showtime/live cooking demonstrations, how to navigate dietary restrictions using clinically-driven menus, why getting your chef out of the kitchen is a tour strategy, and the golden rule of underpromising and overdelivering on prospects. Whether you're an operator, a chef, a marketer, or a sales director — this episode is your dining room roadmap. 🎧 Subscribe on Spotify | Follow @tipsfromtrestle

    RE-RELEASE: From Table to Tour | Tips from Trestle, Ep. 518

  4. Jun 23

    Ep 517 - Unimaginable Experiences: Dreaming Big in Recreation

    What does a "yes until it's no" culture actually look like in long-term care? Aaron Fish sits down with Christy Norrish and Eric Anderson from Sherbrooke Community Centre (Saskatoon, SK) — recorded live at the Eden Alternative International Conference — to explore how their team creates unimaginable resident experiences: from water-skiing in a wheelchair to attending a Backstreet Boys concert. They cover the Eden Alternative philosophy, how to fight loneliness, helplessness, and boredom, community partnership strategies for zero-budget programming, resident-led recreation forums, and how to recharge as an activity professional. Perfect for activity directors, recreation therapists, executive directors, and anyone who believes life doesn't end when you move into long-term care. Sponsors: Wisox AI | LINK Consulting | Dining with Dementia Workshop | The 100% Leader

    Ep 517 - Unimaginable Experiences: Dreaming Big in Recreation

  5. Jun 10

    The Power of “You’re Right”: Language That Changes Outcomes

    In this episode of Tips From Trestle, host Aaron Fish welcomes author, educator, and dementia-care advocate Angela Brigance for a deep dive into the language of leadership in senior living. With more than 30 years of experience across home care, skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care, Angela brings a unique blend of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) expertise and real-world operations know-how. Angela explains why “don’t” statements fail our teams, how reframing “short-staffed” as “challenged” unlocks problem-solving, and what happens in the brain when we give clear, positive directions instead of vague corrections. She also shares a simple four-step phrase pattern—starting with “you’re right”—that can defuse upset residents and families while preserving trust in your caregivers. Whether you lead a single community or an entire portfolio, this conversation will help you use intentional language to strengthen culture, improve the resident and family experience, and create more confident frontline leaders. Tune in to learn how changing a few words can completely change your outcomes in senior living food, hospitality, and care. Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOxAdvantageTrust GPO: https://bit.ly/TFTAdvTrustDining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100#TFT515 #SeniorLiving #SeniorLivingLeadership #ElevateTheExperience #SeniorLivingLeadership #DementiaCare #NeuroLinguisticProgramming #LeadershipCommunication #IntentionalLanguage #SeniorLivingPros #MemoryCareMatters #HospitalityLeadership #CaregiverSupport #CultureOfCare #TeamEngagement #ResidentExperience #SeniorCareInnovation #LanguageOfLeadership #TipsFromTrestle #LongTermCare

    The Power of “You’re Right”: Language That Changes Outcomes

  6. Jun 9

    The Power of “You’re Right”: Language That Changes Outcomes

    In this episode of Tips From Trestle, host Aaron Fish welcomes author, educator, and dementia-care advocate Angela Brigance for a deep dive into the language of leadership in senior living. With more than 30 years of experience across home care, skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care, Angela brings a unique blend of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) expertise and real-world operations know-how. Angela explains why “don’t” statements fail our teams, how reframing “short-staffed” as “challenged” unlocks problem-solving, and what happens in the brain when we give clear, positive directions instead of vague corrections. She also shares a simple four-step phrase pattern—starting with “you’re right”—that can defuse upset residents and families while preserving trust in your caregivers. Whether you lead a single community or an entire portfolio, this conversation will help you use intentional language to strengthen culture, improve the resident and family experience, and create more confident frontline leaders. Tune in to learn how changing a few words can completely change your outcomes in senior living food, hospitality, and care. Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: - WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOx - AdvantageTrust GPO: https://bit.ly/TFTAdvTrust - Dining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD - 100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100 #TFT515 #SeniorLiving #SeniorLivingLeadership #ElevateTheExperience #SeniorLivingLeadership #DementiaCare #NeuroLinguisticProgramming #LeadershipCommunication #IntentionalLanguage #SeniorLivingPros #MemoryCareMatters #HospitalityLeadership #CaregiverSupport #CultureOfCare #TeamEngagement #ResidentExperience #SeniorCareInnovation #LanguageOfLeadership #TipsFromTrestle #LongTermCare

    The Power of “You’re Right”: Language That Changes Outcomes

  7. May 18

    City Under a Roof: Why Senior Living Hospitality Is a $2 Million Opportunity | TFT 515

    What if your dining room was actually your most powerful sales tool? In Part 2 of our "flip the mic" episode, Kelsey gets Aaron to unpack why the industry's biggest missed opportunity isn't in marketing or technology — it's on the plate. Aaron breaks down: Why dining rooms should be run like restaurants (not "restaurant style")How using hospitality can get a mid-sized operator a gain of nearly $2 Million in additonal revenues annuallyWhy memory care dining is the most neglected — and highest-impact — area in senior livingHow standards actually elevate hospitality instead of killing itThe cap rate math that gets an increase of $1M in asset valueWhether you're an operator, investor, ED, or culinary director, this episode will permanently change how you think about the relationship between hospitality, revenue, and resident experience in senior living. Keywords: senior living dining, memory care hospitality, senior living revenue, assisted living operations, hospitality standards, senior housing investment, dining with dementia, senior living leadership #TFT515 #SeniorLiving #SeniorLivingLeadership #ElevateTheExperience #HospitalityInSeniorLiving #SeniorLivingOperators #ResidentExperience #AssistedLiving #AssetValuation #RevenueGeneration #SeniorHousing #FoodServiceLeadership #ThreeLeggedStool #DiningExperience #SeniorLivingConsulting #HospitalityLeadership #TipsFromTrestle

    City Under a Roof: Why Senior Living Hospitality Is a $2 Million Opportunity | TFT 515

  8. May 12

    Why Senior Living Is a Three-Legged Stool — And Hospitality Is the Leg Nobody's Using | Ep. 514 Pt. 1

    What if the biggest problem in senior living isn't the care — it's the culture?In Part 1 of this special role-reversal episode of Tips from Trestle, host Aaron Fish gets interviewed by Trestle Hospitality”s Kelsey Wilkinson — and the result is one of the most candid conversations the show has ever produced. Aaron shares the origin story behind Trestle Hospitality Concepts, including the now-legendary bathroom mirror moment that brought the brand to life. He unpacks the philosophy of "elevating the experience" in senior living and makes the case that the industry has been operating through only two pillars, while it truly is a three-legged stool. This episode is a must-listen for any senior living operator, culinary director, or community leader ready to think differently about how they serve residents.Tips from Trestle is sponsored by:- WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOx- AdvantageTrust GPO: https://bit.ly/TFTAdvTrust- Dining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD- 100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_10000:01:30 — Why This Episode Is Different00:02:00 — The Origin Story of Trestle Hospitality Concepts00:04:00 — The Bathroom Mirror Moment00:06:30 — What Trestle Represents00:07:00 — From the Broadmoor to Senior Living00:08:00 — Where "Elevate the Experience" Came From00:09:30 — Every Touchpoint Counts00:10:30 — The Moments That Crystallized the Philosophy00:12:00 — The Pureed Meal Nobody Recognized00:13:30 — When Dining Sells the Apartment00:15:00 — Why Senior Living Resists Hospitality00:16:00 — The Three-Legged Stool Framework00:17:00 — Where the Time Actually Goes00:18:00 — Qualitative vs. Quantitative Metrics#TFT514 #SeniorLiving #SeniorLivingLeadership #ElevateTheExperience #HospitalityInSeniorLiving #SeniorLivingOperators #ResidentExperience #AssistedLiving #AgingWithDignity #SeniorCare #FoodServiceLeadership #ThreeLeggedStool #DiningExperience #SeniorLivingConsulting #HospitalityLeadership #TipsFromTrestle

    Why Senior Living Is a Three-Legged Stool — And Hospitality Is the Leg Nobody's Using | Ep. 514 Pt. 1
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Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food, hospitality, & the community experience. Hosted by THE Hospitality Executive to the Senior Living Industry Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about food & beverage operations, community & resident experiences, and trends & happenings in the senior living industry. To be considered as a guest for TFT, please send an email to info@trestlehc.com Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: - eMenuCHOICE POS - Clark Pro - DiningRD Trestle Tactics is sponsored by - Gordon Food Service

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