Innovative partnership between the Résidences ENHARMONIE network and the ITHQ

CHEFS AND NUTRITIONISTS COMBINE THEIR EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP MENUS FOR SENIORS

MONTREAL, Sept. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - The Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal (OMHM) and the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) today announced that they will pursue an innovative partnership aimed at offering seniors healthy meals that are tastier, more varied and affordable.

In the months ahead, students in their final year of the ITHQ's Applied Restaurant Management program, supervised by three teachers, including two chefs and one nutritionist, will design menus that better respond to the needs of seniors living in the 1,259 apartments in Montreal's 10 ENHARMONIE residences, managed by the OMHM. These menus will be evaluated by the residents themselves before being finalized and published on the enharmonie website (www.residencesenharmonie.qc.ca) so that all Quebec seniors can benefit from them.

"We want to put a greater emphasis on the diet of our tenants because protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to a decrease in muscle mass, increase the risk of falling and reduce seniors' independence," said Ms. Debbie Di Chiaro, Director, ENHARMONIE network and Director, Affordable Housing at the OMHM.

Present at the news conference, Ms. Danielle Boivin, Nutritionist, Second Vice-President, Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec, welcomed this partnership.  "The Ordre professionnel des diététistes is pleased to be associated with this initiative, which underscores the important link between nutrition and the maintenance of good health for seniors. Insofar as seniors are affected by physiological changes that make them more fragile as they advance in age, we must ensure they have access to nutrition that responds to their needs," said Ms. Boivin.

The ITHQ has a solid track record of experience in this field. In particular, it has revised the menus of a variety of establishments that serve specific clienteles and respond to particular taste and nutrition needs. For Mr. Bernard Aurouze, Director, Centre d'expertise et de recherche en hôtellerie et restauration, "the importance of managing the standardization of a hundred or so recipes is at the heart of this challenge, but what is most important is the result of the final product in terms of presentation and the flavour of the food."

The creation of new recipes represents the second phase of the agreement between the ENHARMONIE residences and the ITHQ. The first phase, which focused on various elements of the management of the residences' kitchens, began last May when the ENHARMONIE network began to hire their own chefs to replace their existing catering service. Five of the ten residences now have their own chef.

"Our goal was to have better control of the cost and quality of the meals, which, incidentally, are served at tables, like in a restaurant. It was at that point that we searched for experts to guide us in this new venture," said Ms. Di Chiaro.

The collaboration with the Institut will optimize the ENHARMONIE network's food operations. "This new approach will help us avoid a cost increase of $150,000 per year, which would have been unavoidable had we kept the catering service. In other words, we avoided a rental increase of about $120 per apartment per year all while ensuring the proper diet of our residents, and we're very proud of that," she added.

For his part, Mr. Alain Tassé, Associate Councillor, Housing, Ville de Montréal, was delighted with the announcement of this partnership. "The City of Montreal welcomes the initiative of the ENHARMONIE network to show concern for the well-being of low-income seniors and to provide them, in addition to affordable high-quality housing, with more nutritious meals," he said.

About the ENHARMONIE network
The ENHARMONIE network has been active in the affordable housing domain for the past five years. Today, it includes 10 new residences located across the island of Montreal, totalling 1,259 apartments. All 10 residences have been certified by the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal. The network's mission is to offer low-income seniors affordable apartments of superior quality, a wide range of services, and a safe, enriching living environment.

The ENHARMONIE residences are managed by the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal, a non-profit organization devoted to improving living conditions for low-income and moderate-income families and individuals.

About the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec
Founded in 1968, the ITHQ is a training institution that offers regular and continuing education programs and carries out related research, application and development activities. Its mission is to provide the Quebec tourism, hotel and food service industries with top-quality professional human resources.

For further information:

Paul Caccia
Public Relations and International Affairs
Institut de toursime et d'hotellerie du Québec
[phone] or [email protected]