Tips from Trestle: The Senior Living Food and Hospitality Podcast

Hosted by Aaron Fish

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

224

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 1, 2026Episode 2533 min

From Michelin Kitchens to Senior Living Dining Rooms | Ep. 525

What happens when a two-time James Beard semifinalist brings restaurant systems into senior living dining? Host Aaron Fish sits down with Steven Cameron, VP of Culinary Experience at Trestle Hospitality Concepts, to break down the four complaints every dining room hears — and which ones are solvable with equipment and SOPs versus culture and training. Steven shares the real story of clocking a 28-minute table greet, then using host stands, back waiters, server sections, and reservations to cut dinner service from two and a half hours to 52 minutes, with residents helping shape the change. They also cover point-of-sale systems senior living operators overlook, how to adapt fine dining structures for assisted living and memory care, and how a standardized catering program can become an unexpected revenue stream. Connect with Steven at trestlehospitalityconcepts.com or scameron@trestlehc.com. Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: WiseOx AI, Dining with Dementia Workshop, and the 100% Leader. Keywords: senior living dining, restaurant efficiency, hospitality leadership, point-of-sale systems, resident experience, dining room service, senior living operations, culinary leadership.

August 18, 2026Episode 2430 min

Music, Muscle, and Memory: A Dementia Fitness Breakthrough | Ep. 524

Falls are one of the biggest fears in memory care — but new research suggests the fix might be simpler than we think. Host Aaron Fish sits down with Deborah Rothschild, founder of ToughAgers LLC and creator of Debra Does Fitness, live from the Eden Alternative International Conference. Deborah unpacks a 9-week study comparing resistance training, aerobic exercise, and social visits in people with dementia — and reveals which approach actually improved cognition. She also explains the four types of memory that shape how you should coach a fitness session, why she borrows principles from her former career as a Montessori preschool teacher, and how music tied to someone's "sticky years" can unlock movement other cues can't reach. A practical, research-backed conversation for anyone building fall-prevention and wellness programming in senior living.Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOx Dining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD 100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100 #TFT523 #SeniorLiving #DementiaCare #FallPrevention #MemoryCare #AgingWell #SeniorFitness #ToughAgers #EdenAlternative #HealthyAging #CaregiverTips #LongTermCare #BrainHealth #MontessoriMethod #IndependentLiving #ActivitiesDirector

August 10, 2026Episode 2332 min

Predict, Prepare, Recover: Senior Living Readiness | Ep. 523

When disaster strikes a senior living community, the immediate emergency is only the beginning. Aaron Fish welcomes Claudine Ripert of Critical Control to discuss senior living disaster preparedness, property protection, resident relocation, insurance coverage, FEMA documentation, and the long tail of recovery. Claudine explains her Predict, Prepare, Recover framework and shares why leadership teams need clearer decision authority, stronger vendor relationships, regular insurance reviews, and better documentation before an event occurs. This episode is essential listening for senior living executives, regional operators, executive directors, risk-management teams, and anyone responsible for protecting residents, teams, and community assets. Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOx Dining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD 100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100 #TFT523 #SeniorLiving #SeniorLivingLeadership #EmergencyPreparedness #DisasterRecovery #BusinessContinuity #RiskManagement #ResidentSafety #HealthcareLeadership #AssistedLiving #LongTermCare #SeniorCare #CrisisManagement #FEMA #DisasterResilience #OperationalExcellence

August 4, 2026Episode 2228 min

High Potential vs. High Performer: What Every Senior Living Leader Gets Wrong | Ep. 522

Are you sitting on untapped talent inside your own community? In this episode, Aaron Fish talks with Samantha Schreiber, Senior HR Manager at Floor & Decor and former HR Director at Phoenix Senior Living, about the critical difference between high-performing and high-potential employees in senior living. They break down the nine-box talent planning tool, explore why low effort is often a symptom of feeling undervalued rather than a personality flaw, and calculate the real cost of quiet quitting and turnover in food and hospitality roles. Plus: practical, budget-conscious recognition strategies that work even when raises aren't an option, and why employee engagement directly drives resident satisfaction. A must-listen for executive directors, administrators, and HR leaders in senior living. Tips from Trestle is sponsored by: WiseOx: https://bit.ly/TFT_WiseOx Dining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD 100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100

July 28, 2026Episode 2125 min

Slow Down, Lead Up: A Real Crisis Playbook for Senior Living Leaders | Ep. 521

A crisis playbook isn't a binder you pull off a shelf — it's a discipline. In this episode, Aaron Fish sits down with Damon Thomas, Senior Vice President of Operations at Providence Senior Living and a 30-year senior living veteran, to break down how real leaders respond when things go wrong. Damon shares the difference between predictable emergencies and unpredictable human-driven crises, introduces his HEAT framework, and explains why regulators respond to composure, not panic. Whether you're an executive director, a regional leader, or anyone who's ever been the first call when something goes sideways, this episode gives you a real, usable playbook for staying calm, controlling the narrative, and leading through it. In this episode: Why crisis playbooks are about sequence, not checklists The four crises leaders most often underestimate The HEAT framework for de-escalating any tense conversation How to communicate with regulators as partners, not adversaries Why silence creates rumors and oversharing creates liability Follow Tips from Trestle for weekly conversations on senior living food, hospitality, and leadership. Learn more about Trestle Hospitality Concepts at www.trestlehospitalityconcepts.com .

July 14, 2026Episode 2034 min

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_WiseOx Dining With Dementia: https://bit.ly/TFT_DwD 100% Leader: https://bit.ly/TFT_100 #TFT520 #SeniorLiving #DementiaCare #AlzheimersAwareness #CognitiveWellbeing #ResidentExperience #MemoryCare #PositiveApproachToCare #EdenAlternative #AgingWithDignity #CaregiverSupport #InclusiveDesign #ReminiscenceTherapy #EngagedAging #DementiaFriendly #SeniorLivingFoodAndHospitality #TipsFromTrestle #ElevateTheExperience

July 6, 2026Episode 1914 min

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.

June 30, 2026Episode 1819 min

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

June 23, 2026Episode 1730 min

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

June 10, 2026Episode 1626 min

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