Cosmic Soup welcomes Danny Corsun, the creator and principal of Culinary Judaics Academy. Please join Scott Daniels and Cynthia Thurlow as we talk about all things kosher… specifically, how communities can work with their dining teams to create understanding and focus on creativity in kosher dining. 3rdPlus and the Culinary Coach are smitten with Culinary Judaics Academy for the work they are doing to bring new meaning to the principles of Jewish spirituality into the modern world.

Hooty Hoot! 3rdPlus and Cosmic Soup welcome Dave Foltz, a brand new addition to the company along with his wife Carol Foltz. As a senior living specialist and leadership coach, in this episode, Dave is going to talk about the DOPE method of helping to manage a diverse team. And we use birds to do it! Also joining the host Cynthia Thurlow, is Randi Saeter, 3rdPlus’ Vice President of Health Services.

Cheers to 2023 and another exciting year of branding, census building and making aging better. Derek and Cynthia recorded their Top Ten Marketing Tips for Senior Living Marketing in 2023. It's short and sweet and intended to help all of you aging services communities to succeed! Mazel tov to the the year!

Innovation and change can be the make-or-break difference between surviving and thriving. And at 3rdPlus, we want all senior living communities to THRIVE and make aging better. In this episode of Cosmic Soup I have an enlightening conversation with Randi Saeter, VP of Health Services here at 3rdPlus and Dave Foltz, 3rdPlus Leadership and Culture Coach. It’s a nice refresher and inspiration for how to get the most out of your talented teams! Enjoy.

Do you know the term “internalized ageism”? Do you know how it impacts sales and marketing, warps the perspectives of your prospects and can make an immense difference in your own longevity? According to gerontology researchers Levy, Kunkel, and Kasl (2002), “Older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions of aging.” Our 3rdThird Marketing creative director Derek Dujardin and principle at 3rdPlus, Cynthia Thurlow-Cruver, have spent the summer crisscrossing the country speaking at quite a few senior living conferences on the topic of internalized ageism and marketing. We decided it was time to capture what they learned about internalized ageism and highlight key takeaways that every savvy marketer needs to know.

The outdoor dining season is officially here, and communities across the country are getting their patios and grills ready to offer their residents a taste of summer! There are so many reasons to include outdoor dining options at your community, and joining Mike on the show today to discuss them is Executive Chef and VP of Culinary and Operations Scott Daniels. Hang out with Scott and Mike as they dispel the myths and rumors about expensive and complicated operations and illustrate how easy, inexpensive, beneficial, and fun it is for residents and staff alike. If you don't already have a plan in place to take advantage of the warmer (and dryer) weather, make sure you tune in for some easy to implement ideas! 3rdPlus/Culinary Coach links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.instagram.com/3rdPlus www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.linkedin.com/3rdPlus   #outdoordining #3rdplus #wemakeagingbetter #seniorliving #3rdthirdmarketing #culinarycoach #cosmicsoup

In today's episode of F-Tag Friday, 3rdPlus and Culinary Coach VP of Health Services Randi Saeter discusses four separate F-Tags: F804, which covers Nutritive Value, Appearance, Palatability, and Serving Temperature. Common violations of this tag include improper storage and holding that cause flavor and nutrient degradation such as extended periods in steam tables, coolers, and ovensF805, which addresses Food Prepared in a Form Designed to Meet Individual Needs, including mechanical and textured dietsF806, which offers guidance for providing safe care for residents with allergies and intolerances, including appropriate substitutions and offeringsF807, which outlines regulations on drinks and hydration that are consistent with needs and preferences of residents Links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.instagram.com/3rdplus www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthird-marketing

In the senior living industry, one of the most hotly debated topics is whether to self-operate your own dining program or to farm out to a food service contractor.  Either way, the C-Suite must set clear expectations in order to ensure resident satisfaction and industry compliance. As a follow-up to last week's episode on managing your own dining department, we brought back 3rd Plus founder/principal Cynthia Thurlow and Culinary Coach Executive Chef/VP of Culinary and Operations Scott Daniels to discuss the ins and outs of contracted dining and how to effectively manage a food operation being run by an outside company.  In this episode, Scott and Cynthia will answer many of the common questions posed to them by clients: Why should I choose a dining contractor? How do I understand my dining contract? How do I hold contractors accountable? How will the food contractor work with my dining team? How do I get out of my contract if I'm not happy? How much control do I still have over my dining department? Tune in now for these answers and more! Links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.instagram.com/3rdplus www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthird-marketing #seniorliving #dining #culinary #csuite #executiveleadership #contracteddining #givethemgoodfood

Dining Management and the C-suite As a C-suite professional of a senior living community, you may know something needs to change when it comes to dining … but you’re not sure what. You probably didn’t study hospitality management or attend culinary school, so how can you positively affect your community’s dining program? That’s what this episode is all about. Culinary Coach Executive Chef and VP of Culinary and Operations Scott Daniels teams up with 3rdPlus Founder and Principal Cynthia Thurlow to give a quick primer on how to approach managing your dining program.  We’ll answer questions like: Should we manage our own dining department? How involved should I be in overseeing the dining operation? How often should I review and share financial information with my management team? What effect would my presence in the kitchen or dining room have on the dining team? What kind of leadership should I have in place to run the dining operation? This excellent conversation is geared toward executive-level managers who are looking to take a more hands-on approach to their community's dining program and set clear and concise expectations with their leadership teams. Links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.instagram.com/3rdplus www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthird-marketing #seniorliving #dining #culinary #csuite #executiveleadership #selfoperate #givethemgoodfood

On this episode of F-Tag Friday, 3rd Plus and Culinary Coach VP of Health Services Randi Saeter discusses F803, which states that menus need to Meet Resident Needs, Be Prepared in Advance, and Followed. This includes considering the religious, cultural, and ethnic needs of residents and also states that menus need to be analyzed and updated periodically and in such a way so as not to limit the resident's right to make personal dietary choices. Links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.instagram.com/3rdplus www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthird-marketing

In this episode of F-Tag Friday we discuss F801 and F802, which layout the requirements for having Qualified Dietary Staff as well as sufficient levels of Dietary Support Personnel. Tune in to hear 3rdPlus and Culinary Coach VP of Health Services  Randi Saeter share her insight on these two critical areas.   Links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.instagram.com/3rdplus www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthird-marketing

Welcome to F-Tag Friday, our new semi-regular segment on Cosmic Soup! On any given Friday of our closing, 3rdPlus VP of Health Services Randi Saeter will break down the often confusing Code of Federal Regulations for Long Term Care into bite-sized, digestible morsels with the goal of helping senior living communities provide the best care possible and avoid getting fines, citations and additional regulation and monitoring placed on their already challenging operations. And because we're so passionate about food, health and wellness, we will be initially focusing on the specific codes (F-tags) that cover the Food and Nutrition Services regulatory group. In our first episode, we cover F800: Provided Diet Meets Needs of Each Resident. Links: www.3rdplus.com www.culinarycoach.us www.facebook.com/3rdPlus www.instagram.com/3rdplus www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthird-marketing

It’s been a busy and productive year for us here at 3rdThird Marketing, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share some exciting news and give you a sneak peek of what we’ve been working on behind the scenes for quite some time.  As many of you know, the company has branched out to provide additional services in the form of Culinary Coach and Community Coach. We have now added one more business unit to the fold: SparksPlus. And with such expansion came the need to develop a concept that could combine branding, marketing, culinary, coaching, and life enrichment services all under one umbrella. So, in keeping with our commitment to make aging better by offering holistic, inspirational and life-enriching services for today’s modern elder, we are proud to announce that at the 2021 Leading Age Annual Meeting + Expo, we are officially launching 3rdPlus, a new umbrella brand that combines and empowers all our services under one name. Joining us on the show today to discuss the development and unveiling of  3rdPlus is founder and principal Cynthia Thurlow Cruver. We’re also joined by  3rdPlus Creative Director Derek Dujardin who discusses the creative process as well as Dr. Kelly Tremblay, a neuroscientist and audiologist who specializes in aging and serves as a consultant to 3rdPlus by contributing to its education and science missions. Cosmic Soup Links: https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Podbean!

Have you been dreaming about expanding your community or even just upgrading an area of your campus? Do you need the revenue and the financing to  make it happen, but aren't sure where the funds will come from? Then we have three words for you: Blue Sky Selling. And while this concept may seem daunting for some, it doesn't have to be. There are predictable, reliable and formulaic techniques that have a track record of proven results when applied correctly.  Joining us today to discuss this concept is Community Coach VP of Sales and Marketing Don Warfield, who is an outspoken advocate for Blue Sky utilization and an expert in the field. Also joining us is 3rdPlus founder Cynthia Thurlow, who provides some additional insight to the advantages of Blue Sky Selling and what it means to "Sell the Future." Together, Don and Cynthia outline the steps necessary to launch a successful Blue Sky Campaign in a fun, casual, and informative fashion. Cosmic Soup Links: https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Podbean!

"How's the food?" The quality of a community's dining operation is one of the largest factors that potential residents take into consideration when deciding where to spend their retirement years. The reality is that the success or failure of a food program can make or break a community. It's no wonder, then, that one of the hottest topics in the industry is whether to self-operate or go with a contracted dining company. Fortunately, we've got an expert in this area in our ranks. Joining us today is Scott Daniels,  Vice President of Culinary and Operations at Culinary Coach. Scott brings over 25 years of experience in contracted dining, and we took the opportunity to take a deep dive into  the subject. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of dining contracts, from a true insider's perspective of someone who spent over two decades in the trenches.  If you are thinking about how you can level-up your dining program and are exploring all options, this episode is for you! Cosmic Soup Links: https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Podbean!

Fresh off our trip through the cosmos, we make a triumphant return to introduce our newest addition to the team, visual storytelling guru Elliott Moore. Join Mike, Cynthia, and Elliot as they discuss the various ways that communities in the aging services industry can build census and fight ageism by using affordable and accessible video technology to create impactful visual campaigns. Make sure you tune in to check out this fun conversation and hear our exciting announcement about Elliott's upcoming contributions to Cosmic Soup! Cosmic Soup Links: https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Podbean!

To close out the year, we thought it would be fun (because we're food nerds) to have a lighthearted but serious discussion about what kinds of food we should eat and what we can do to help boost our immune systems to better fight COVID-19 and other life-sucking illnesses. To make sure we roll into the New Year better prepared, Cynthia and I invited registered dietician Randi Saeter and professor of audiology and neuroscience Dr. Kelly Tremblay to join us for an epic conversation about  the microbiome, the mind-gut connection, delicious superfoods, and healthy habits. Links https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, and more!

Aldersgate Life Plan Services is a picturesque community located on 231 majestic acres in Charlotte, NC. And while there is no denying the beauty of the locale, what is truly stunning are the hearts and minds of those that run the operations at this one-of-a-kind community. The folks at Aldersgate consider the residents, the employees, and the outlying communities their family and are dedicated to delivering on their mission to provide diversity, inclusion, and equity into every facet of their operation. In addition to that, Aldersgate delivers on their commitment to ensure that all residents are engaged, entertained, and excited on a daily basis by providing world-class activities and functions. We're joined today by Brooks Shelley, Aldersgate's Director of Branding and Community Engagement. Tune in to hear Brooks and Mike discuss the ways that Aldersgate approaches resident and community engagement, and how , even during the pandemic, they are managing to keep morale up and spirits lifted during the holidays. Aldersgate Links: www.aldersgateuniversity.com www.facebook.com/AldersgateSeniorLivingCommunity www.instagram.com/aldersgatenc Cosmic Soup Links: https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, and more!

We're back! And to celebrate our triumphant return, we're pleased to introduce you to our brand new VP of sales and marketing, Don Warfield! Join Cynthia, Don, and Mike as they discuss Don's epic sales career and his philosophy on generating lasting relationships. We explore his vision for the industry, the creation of Community Coach, and what he brings to the 3rd Third soup! We also recap what's been going on with us over the last couple of months … and drop a few hints on what's coming in the future. Cosmic Soup Links: https://www.3rdThirdmarketing.com/podcast https://www.culinarycoach.us https://cosmicsoup.podbean.com Follow us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/3rdThirdMarketing https://www.twitter.com/3rdThirdMktg https://instagram.com/3rdthirdmarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/3rdthirdmarketing Email us!  cosmicsoup@3rd3rd.com Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, and Podbean!

What’s a common hobby among centenarians? According to a study recently covered by the BBC, the favored hobby is … gardening! Because we’re in the thick of summer, a lot of cool stuff is growing in the garden. So to celebrate all things green, we’re producing a series of podcasts on urban gardens located at senior living properties. Joining us today is Rob Leinbach, Principal at Cadence Living, a company that develops, manages and owns a national portfolio of communities ranging from modest to truly upscale. We invited Rob to talk about their Poway, California, memory care community—Cadence at Poway. To learn how Poway Gardens integrates a vast garden with resident programming, we are also joined by Roy Wilburn, horticultural director at the Poway location. Rob manages acres of epic gardens right on site, works with residents in the horticultural therapy program and runs an intergenerational program with nearby students. Rob and Roy provided us with a ton of amazing and useful information. We learned why they chose this location and what urban gardens provide to the community and society as a whole. We discussed the benefits of horticultural therapy and the many ways Cadence at Poway uses these resources to benefit its residents. And since our own Cynthia Thurlow-Cruver is also a super-powered organic farming ninja, she crashed the party to bring a little extra flavor to the soup. This is one episode you don’t want to miss!