The Quality of Life Campaign:
Read more about our new, state-of-the-art Hospice Care and Community Center on our existing lakeside property.
More Than Meals
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home—and at David Simpson Hospice House, that’s certainly true.
“You will always encounter a welcoming, smiling face,” says Kay Weber, Director of Dietary Services. “This is a special place.”
But the current kitchen, tucked in the basement with a small café, makes serving patients and families a daily logistical challenge.
“If the elevator is out, which has happened before, we have to climb lots of stairs while trying to maintain appropriate food temperature,” Kay says. “That is our biggest challenge.
“We just want our patients to get what they want, at the right temperature, within a reasonable amount of time.”
Dietary Services team members are also spread across multiple rooms, limiting collaboration and communication.
“We are not a cohesive team,” Kay says. “The cooks, the servers, the dietitians are all in different areas.”
Dietary Supervisor Shaun Harris agrees, “We are sectioned off: The cooks are in one room, and you have to go through the next room to reach the rest of the staff. It makes collaboration harder.”
That’s why the kitchen at the new Hospice Care & Community Center means so much to Kay and Shaun. They’ve worked closely with architects to help design the space, sharing input on everything from the layout and equipment to color schemes.
What are they most excited about?
“An air fryer that will allow us to provide healthier options,” Shaun says. “This greaseless fryer also can broil and air fry food at the same time. We are going to be able to cook so many different things.”
Kay is looking forward to a vacuum sealer system and a combination oven that can both steam and bake. But what matters most to her?
“Being on the same floor as all of our team members,” she says. “Having more interaction with them.”
For Kay and Shaun, the new kitchen isn’t just about better equipment. It’s about delivering comfort through fresh, hot meals. And creating a space where their team can thrive.
Because at the heart of hospice—and every home—is a kitchen filled with love.