A Registered Dietitian is not a requirement for senior living communities–but at Ellore, and across the 110+ communities managed by Oakmont Management Group–residents have access to one because it brings something truly meaningful: a 360-degree approach to wellness.

Nutrition is deeply connected to energy, strength, cognition, immunity, and overall quality of life, especially for older adults. And while culinary teams focus on creating delicious meals, and clinical teams focus on medical care, a Registered Dietitian ensures those efforts come together in a way that supports each resident’s health goals.

At Ellore, a luxury senior living community in Santa Clara, California, Registered Dietitian Rachel Hildrey is a key differentiator—one that residents and families deeply value.

 

What Does a Registered Dietitian Do in Senior Living?

A Registered Dietitian plays a vital role in both proactive wellness and individualized support. Rachel’s work includes:

  • Reviewing all menus to ensure they meet dietary guidelines for older adults
  • Consulting with residents on weight loss, weight gain, and special dietary needs
  • Bridging the gap between culinary and clinical teams so meals and snacks support wellness goals
  • Providing one-on-one nutrition counseling for residents

Complimentary One-on-One Counseling, Families Welcome

One of the most valued services at Ellore is that every resident has access to individualized dietary counseling at no additional cost.

Families are invited to participate, either in person or via telehealth, which is especially helpful for loved ones who live out of town. These sessions are designed to provide education, guidance, and ongoing support, tailored to each resident’s needs.

And in many cases, that time and attention makes all the difference.

For example, when a resident receives a new diagnosis of diabetes, they may only get a few minutes with a physician—far too little time to understand how their daily diet should change. Rachel can spend an hour walking the resident and their family through what a diabetes-friendly lifestyle looks like, how to navigate the menu, and what choices will support stable blood sugar, followed by continued guidance as questions come up.

Personalized Support for Weight Goals and Special Diets

Families also appreciate Rachel’s ability to help their loved ones manage their weight in a healthy, sustainable way. Because she helps shape menus across Oakmont communities, whether a resident is working toward weight loss or needs support with weight gain, Rachel can recommend practical adjustments without compromising enjoyment. 

Her expertise is equally valuable for special diets. From gluten-free to lactose-free needs, Rachel coordinates with the culinary team to ensure accommodations are made with confidence and consistency—reassurance families value as much as the menu itself.

Nutrition Support for Residents Experiencing Memory Loss

When a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other forms of memory loss, families often share the same concerns: Are they forgetting to eat? Are they being offered snacks throughout the day? Are they losing weight?

Rachel helps ease these worries with expert oversight and proactive support.

She tracks weights monthly for all residents—and weekly for those experiencing weight loss—while communicating directly with the resident’s physician and care team when needed. She also helps identify foods and snacks that a specific resident enjoys, so nutrition support feels comforting, familiar, and appealing.

For families, Rachel’s vigilance offers something priceless: peace of mind.

The Superfoods Program: A Game-Changer for Daily Wellness

One of the most impactful initiatives at Ellore has been the creation of the Superfoods Program. Each morning, residents are offered no-sugar-added smoothies, and every afternoon they enjoy a low-sugar, low-sodium snack. The program has quickly become a favorite among residents. 

Memory care residents are at higher risk for decreased appetite, dehydration, and unintentional weight loss. The Superfoods Program plays a key role in reducing those risks through delicious, nutrient-dense offerings that residents genuinely enjoy.

“If we have a resident that eats very little at mealtime, we can create a higher-calorie smoothie to provide nutritious options they’re excited to eat,” Hildrey said. “Superfood smoothies and snacks taste great, but they also play a major role in supporting immunity, bone health, skin health, brain health and cognition, wound healing, and more.”

We asked Rachel what some of the resident superfood favorites were, and we can certainly understand why. 

“They love the blueberry almond butter smoothie which usually contains kale or spinach, too,” Hildrey said. “They love chia seed pudding, beet hummus (yes, it’s beautifully pink), our chocolate and avocado pudding. And our peanut butter/banana smoothie is always a hit.” 

A Real Resident Story: Nutrition That Works Because It’s Personal

One of the most rewarding parts of Rachel’s role is creating solutions that feel realistic and enjoyable for residents.

In one community, a resident was experiencing weight loss and could only eat a few bites at meals. He didn’t like classic nutritional supplements like Ensure and refused them.

Rachel partnered with the culinary team to create fresh, in-house shakes using ingredients like Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and other nutrient-rich add-ins. The goal was simple: create a supplement that felt like a treat, not a medical product.

The resident loved the smoothies and gained back the weight he had lost. He felt better, his family was thrilled, and the care team had a long-term solution that truly worked.

A Differentiator That Residents and Families Can Feel

At Ellore, dining is elevated, but more importantly, it’s intentional. Rachel Hildrey’s role as a Registered Dietitian ensures residents receive personalized nutrition support that enhances daily life, strengthens wellness, and supports changing needs over time.

For families, it means reassurance. For residents, it means confidence. And for the Ellore community, it’s one more way we deliver on what elevated senior living should be: thoughtful, personalized, and beautifully supportive at every stage.