(Alexandria, Va.)—Today, at the 2019 Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference in San Antonio, Texas, Argentum announced a partnership with the leader in food safety training and certification—the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe™ program. ServSafe is widely respected in the foodservice industry as the leader in food safety training, offering resources and examinations created by foodservice and regulatory experts. This partnership supports Argentum’s mission to advance professionalism and quality measures across senior living.
“Improving safety in all aspects of care and service in senior living is a priority,” said James Balda, Argentum president & CEO. “Argentum is pleased to offer its members expanded opportunities to enhance food safety measures through this partnership with the ServSafe program.”
Through this new partnership, Argentum members are eligible for a discount on course content that can be used to prepare for the ServSafe certification examination. The negotiated discount for Argentum members can be applied through the ServSafe portal designed for Argentum. Argentum is the only senior living industry association providing discounts to members for this required training.
“Preventing foodborne illness through proven food safety practices is vitally important for those working with senior populations,” said Sherman L. Brown, executive vice president, training & certification, National Restaurant Association. “ServSafe is proud to partner with Argentum to ensure that employees at their senior living communities are equipped with the most up-to-date food safety knowledge and training.”
Through partnerships with organizations leading in their unique spaces, such as ServSafe, and through educational and professional development offerings, Argentum continues to provide opportunities to improve operations and better serve residents. This week, attendees at the Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference heard from dining experts at the event’s first-ever Dining Strategies Deep Dive track. Speakers, including those from the Senior Dining Association, The Hollyday Group, Morrison Community Living, The Asbury Group, and Civitas Senior Living, spoke on topics related to financial management, technology, and operations across senior living dining. More than two dozen dining and hospitality exhibitors, including ServSafe and US Foods, also served as solutions experts at the expo, where an inaugural Culinary Cook-Off among top senior living chefs also took center stage.
“Dining is an important social aspect for residents in senior living,” said Marjan Kodric, chair of the Argentum dining services executive roundtable and vice president of dining services at Brookdale. “They consider it an experience beyond just eating food. A resident once told me that, ‘sales is the reason why I moved in to Brookdale, but dining is why I stay.’”
About Argentum
Argentum is the leading national association exclusively dedicated to supporting companies operating professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the older adults and families they serve. Argentum member companies operate senior living communities offering assisted living, independent living, continuing care, and memory care services to older adults and their families. Argentum’s work is driven by its membership. For more information about joining Argentum in its mission to raise the bar of excellence in senior living, please visit argentum.org/membership. Since 1990, Argentum has advocated for choice, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all older adults. Learn more at argentum.org.
About ServSafe
As the premier provider of educational resources, materials, and programs to help attract and develop a strong industry workforce, ServSafe has been the restaurant industry’s leading association since 1919 and, together with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, our goal is to lead America’s restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve. Learn more at servsafe.com.
ServSafe certification is recognized and accepted in all 50 states, but individual states vary in their regulatory requirements. Regulatory maps are available on the ServSafe website, providing insight into what is required in various operating jurisdiction(s).