When neighbors are in need, the Boulder community has a reputation for stepping in to help. This winter, the existing dining program at the Towers became unsustainable and closed, leaving residents with fewer options for meals outside their apartment. Golden West began searching for alternative meal service programs for residents, and fortunately, they didn’t have to search far.
Vickie Stotler-Smith, the Executive Director at Flatirons Terrace – a neighboring community to Golden West – heard about the discontinuation of dining services at the Towers, and she immediately reached out to Golden West and asked if she could help.
Vickie has a history with Golden West. She began her career in senior-living there 30 years ago, having worked for Golden West for 13 years before moving out of the state. Years later, she returned to Colorado and was happy to find a position supporting residents and staff at Flatirons Terrace, an independent living community that Golden West sold to Dial Senior Living, a few years ago.
The Flatirons Terrace residents and culinary team were immediately supportive of establishing a meal service program for Towers residents. The two communities began a collaboration to establish a simple and affordable program that has recently kicked off.
Now residents have a new meal service option thanks in part to Golden West’s partnership with their neighbor, Flatirons Terrace Senior Living. Five days a week, residents can choose from two daily specials prepared in the Flatirons Terrace kitchen to-go.
Each week, Towers residents receive the new menu and place their meal orders via telephone or email. Monday through Friday they have two menu item choices including delicious fare like, stuffed bell peppers, seared trout, chicken pot pie, and mashed potatoes with creamed spinach. Towers residents can order as many meals as they like and since Flatirons Terrace is a close neighbor they can easily walk over and pick up their orders between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
“We wanted the program to be affordable and easy for Golden West residents. We just started making meals but are already looking for ways to expand the offerings based on feedback from Towers residents. So far, though, it has been well-received and we expect participation to grow,” Vickie said.
Golden West remains committed to meeting the needs of Towers residents through collaboration with community partners like Flatirons Terrace and Meals-on-Wheels. And we appreciate the support and connection of this special neighbor.