Dietary/Wellness Director or Manager

The Dietary/Wellness Director oversees all aspects of nutrition, dietary services, resident wellness programs, and specialized meal planning for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or behavioral health needs. This leader ensures that meals, hydration, and wellness activities are tailored to cognitive, physical, and behavioral challenges. The role promotes resident dignity, safety, and quality of life through balanced nutrition and proactive wellness initiatives.

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, meal preparation, and food service delivery.

• Develop menus that align with residents’ nutritional needs, physician orders, therapeutic diets, and dementia-specific requirements.

• Ensure meals are appealing, safe, and served in a manner supportive of memory-care residents (e.g., finger-foods, color-contrast plating, texture modifications).

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local dietary regulations.

• Conduct regular kitchen inspections for sanitation, temperature logs, and safety compliance.

• Manage inventory, food ordering, vendor relationships, and cost controls.

• Assess dietary needs in collaboration with nursing, care teams, and dietitians.

• Monitor residents’ weight trends, hydration status, and nutritional risks.

• Implement hydration programs, snack schedules, and tailored eating strategies for residents with dementia or behavioral conditions.

• Develop and support wellness programs addressing physical health, routine, sensory needs, and emotional well-being.

• Participate in care plan meetings, providing nutrition-related updates and recommendations.

• Train staff on dementia-friendly dining, mealtime cueing, and behavior-safe meal service.

• Implement strategies to reduce mealtime stress, refusal to eat, wandering during meals, or agitation.

• Modify environments to promote calm, successful dining experiences (e.g., reduced noise, simple table settings, adaptive utensils).

• Collaborate with behavioral health teams to adjust diets when medications or behaviors impact appetite or nutrition.

• Recruit, schedule, train, and supervise dietary staff.

• Conduct performance evaluations and ongoing coaching.

• Ensure team members adhere to safety, sanitation, and infection-control practices.

• Promote a positive, resident-centered culture with high service quality.

• Maintain accurate dietary documentation, temperature logs, sanitation records, and meal production sheets.

• Support regulatory readiness for state surveys and health inspections.

• Develop and implement departmental policies and procedures.

• Ensure proper handling of allergens, texture-modified diets, and special dietary orders.

• Communicate with families regarding dietary preferences, allergies, and nutrition plans.

• Support restaurant-style service, special events, and holiday meals.

• Respond professionally to resident/family concerns regarding dietary or wellness services.

• Degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Culinary Arts, Healthcare Management, or related field preferred.

• Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) or Food Service Manager certification preferred or required (depending on state).

• Experience in memory care, behavioral health, or long-term care strongly preferred.

• Knowledge of dementia-friendly dining techniques and behavioral-safe mealtime approaches.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Proficiency in dietary software, inventory management, and menu systems.

• Ability to follow dietary regulations and therapeutic diet requirements.