What care tastes like at Minoru Residence
For many residents, familiar flavours can be grounding in a new environment. Minoru Residence is reshaping the menu to better reflect the cultures, stories and traditions of the people who live there.
Food is more than nourishment, it carries memory, identity and a sense of belonging. At Minoru Residence, a long-term care home in Richmond, we recognize the deep connection between food and cultural identity, and the important role it plays in residents’ well-being.
To better reflect the diverse backgrounds of residents, we have expanded our menu to include a wider range of culturally responsive dishes. Familiar flavours honour the traditions, tastes and stories residents bring with them. These meals can spark meaningful memories and help recreate a sense of home within the care setting.
“Food is more than energy, it’s emotion,” says Cissy (Xifan) Chen, Food Services Manager. “Culturally appropriate meals support residents and help them feel safe and grounded.”
Familiar flavours honour the traditions, tastes and stories residents bring with them.
This work reflects out commitment to anti-racism and culturally safe care. By honouring residents’ cultures through something as fundamental as food, we are addressing inequities that are often overlooked in health-care settings. Offering culturally responsive meals is not an accommodation, it is a recognition of each person’s human rights, dignity and identity.
At Minoru Residence, every meal is an opportunity to show respect, build trust and support better health outcomes. Through these everyday practices, we continue to advance inclusive, person-centred care for patients, clients, residents and families across Vancouver Coastal Health.
