Linda Black, ElderCare, Inc. Food Service Supervisor, has passed the credentialing exam to become a Certified Dietary Manager/Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM/CFPP). In 2010 Black started the Dietary Manager Program on-line course with Barton Community College. Marsha Findley is the registered dietitian and instructor of the program for BCC.
William Thatcher, CDM, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood, served as Linda’s mentor during the medical records, medical nutrition therapy and care planning components of the training. Karel Page, Director at Woodhaven, was instrumental in setting up the time with William as she believes in the benefits of training personnel. Janet Splitter, PhD, RD, LD, ElderCare, Inc. Executive Director served as Linda’s registered dietitian preceptor for the duration of the course.
Linda’s says, “I was fortunate to find an online course at Barton Community College that would fit into my schedule. The course improved my ability to hire and supervise personnel, to understand the importance of comfort food to older adults, to differentiate the nutrients in foods and how they improve health, to relate nutrition to the actual facts, and to appreciate the importance of food safety”.
Linda received the 2010 Dietary Manager Student Educational Scholarship from Kansas Nutrition Council to assist with expenses.
Linda has worked at ElderCare, Inc. since July 2008. ElderCare Friendship Meals is the provider of Older American Act nutrition service for older adults in the 28 counties of Southwest Kansas. Each year over 5,000 customers are served noon meals at 41 community meal sites or by home delivery of Meals-on-Wheels. Friendship Meals served 410,000 meals in FFY 2012 385,000 of those to adults who are 60 years or older. Funding is provided by customer contributions and federal and state funding. Friendship Meals I one of two divisions of ElderCare, Inc. The Home Services division provides care for clients in their homes in eight counties.