RD Role in Senior Living Healthcare

Registered Dietitians play a vital role in helping senior living facilities connect individualized nutrition care with safe, satisfying dining experiences. Dietary Solutions provides experienced RD support for clinical assessments, care planning, regulatory readiness, menu oversight, and food service operations. Through a nationwide network and 24/7 support, facilities can maintain continuity while keeping resident wellbeing and nutritional needs at the center of care.

Registered Dietitian consulting with a senior living resident

Our Registered Dietitian Services

Flexible nutrition, staffing, and food service support built for senior living and long-term care operations.

Consultant Dietitians

Credentialed Registered Dietitians provide interim or long-term clinical nutrition, regulatory, and food service support tailored to the needs of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

Interim RD Staffing

Vetted interim Registered Dietitians help maintain nutrition care, documentation, and operational continuity during vacancies, leave periods, staffing shortages, or leadership transitions.

Permanent RD Staffing

Recruiting, credential verification, background checks, onboarding, and facility-specific training help senior living communities build durable nutrition and dietary leadership teams.

Dietary Consulting

Nutrition and dietary consultants help facilities strengthen clinical nutrition, food service operations, survey readiness, compliance practices, and resident-centered dining programs.

Menu Systems

Customizable menu cycles, recipes, production sheets, nutritional analysis, and dietary order tools help teams plan meals that support resident needs and operational visibility.

Tray Card Systems

Clear tray tickets with resident images, diet and liquid icons, and adaptive-device details help staff deliver the correct meal and setup consistently.

Resident-Centered Expertise

Nutrition Leadership That Supports Resident Care

An RD brings clinical nutrition insight and practical food service leadership to the senior living environment. Dietary Solutions matches facilities with credentialed professionals who can assess resident needs, support individualized care plans, guide dietary teams, and strengthen documentation and compliance practices. From a temporary coverage need to ongoing consulting, each engagement is supported by onboarding, training, and regional operational leadership focused on reliable, resident-centered outcomes.

Dietitian reviewing a senior living menu with staff
People-First Support

Meaningful Results

See how knowledgeable nutrition support helps facilities strengthen resident care and daily dining operations.

"I have partnered with Dietary Solutions for over 12 years now and highly recommend their professional services. Dietary Solutions consulting services have been dependable, our regulatory compliance has been outstanding, and their rates are cost effective. Kay Lakhi and Dietary Solutions have created a successful corporate culture of Authenticity, Integrity..."

Brent C.
The Dietary Solutions Difference

Why Choose Dietary Solutions?

Our team combines nutrition expertise with responsive operational support for senior living organizations.

Deep Experience

More than 30 years supporting nutrition, dietary consulting, and staffing across healthcare settings.

Credentialed Professionals

Assigned professionals undergo credential verification, background checks, competency evaluation, and facility-specific onboarding.

Always Available

Nationwide support is available 24/7, including help beyond a consultant’s on-site hours.

Operational Partnership

Regional directors provide mentorship and facility-level guidance for compliance, dining, and nutrition operations.

Meet the Dietary Solutions Team

Experienced leaders advancing nutrition and operational support nationwide.

Portrait of Kay Lakhi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Kay Lakhi

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Kay Lakhi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dietary Solutions, bringing 25 years of dedicated experience as a community leader and wellness advocate. Her career has centered on advancing health and wellness services aimed at the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases, giving her deep insight into the challenges facing healthcare and long-term care organizations nationwide. As the visionary behind Dietary Solutions, Kay has built a people-first organization that connects skilled nutrition professionals with facilities across the country. Her leadership reflects a genuine commitment to improving patient and resident outcomes through personalized, compassionate care solutions. Kay's passion for wellness and her decades of community engagement continue to shape the company's mission of delivering real solutions and results that matter to every client and partner organization she serves.

Portrait of Ashwin Lakhi, Vice President of Security and Infrastructure

Ashwin Lakhi

Vice President of Security & Infrastructure

Ashwin Lakhi serves as Vice President of Security & Infrastructure at Dietary Solutions, where he oversees critical projects that support the organization's continued growth and operational stability. He applies innovative project management techniques and cross-collaboration strategies to enhance business efficiency across the company's nationwide network. His work ensures that Dietary Solutions maintains the infrastructure and security necessary to reliably serve healthcare, senior-care, and community nutrition clients across the United States. Ashwin's strategic approach to organizational development helps the company scale its services while maintaining high standards of operational integrity. His contributions are integral to the company's ability to deliver consistent, dependable support to the facilities and professionals it partners with every day.

Portrait of Melissa Baumbach, Vice President of Operations

Melissa Baumbach

Vice President of Operations

Melissa Baumbach is the Vice President of Operations at Dietary Solutions, leading customer service initiatives and personalized nutrition strategies for organizations nationwide. She brings specialized expertise in regulatory compliance, nutritional excellence, dining program development, and food cost management. Melissa is also well-versed in QAPI (Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement) and PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model), making her an invaluable resource for healthcare and long-term care facilities navigating complex regulatory environments. Her operational leadership ensures that clients receive tailored, effective nutrition and food service solutions that align with both compliance requirements and resident satisfaction goals. Melissa's commitment to operational excellence and her deep understanding of the industry's regulatory landscape make her a trusted partner for organizations seeking to improve their nutrition and dining programs.

Portrait of Denise Fedorek, Regional Director of Operations

Denise Fedorek

Regional Director of Operations

Denise Fedorek serves as a Regional Director of Operations for Dietary Solutions, bringing extensive experience as a nutrition and dietetics professional. Her background spans clinical nutrition, food service management, cost control, training, education, menu development, and gerontological nutrition. Denise plays a key role in providing regional leadership, mentorship, and facility-level support to organizations across the country, helping them maintain compliance while optimizing their nutrition and food service operations. Her comprehensive expertise allows her to address the diverse needs of skilled nursing centers, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare settings that rely on Dietary Solutions for consulting and staffing support. Denise's dedication to gerontological nutrition and resident-centered care reflects the company's core mission of delivering real solutions and meaningful results for every client she supports.

Portrait of Chauntel Horaney, Director of Human Resources

Chauntel Horaney

Director of Human Resources

Chauntel Horaney is the Director of Human Resources at Dietary Solutions, where she leads talent acquisition, onboarding, training, and professional development initiatives for the company's nationwide team. As a Certified Human Resources professional, she brings specialized expertise in organizational processes and employee experience, ensuring that Dietary Solutions attracts and retains top nutrition and dietary professionals. Chauntel's focus on building strong organizational foundations supports the company's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality staffing and consulting services to healthcare and community organizations across the United States. Her commitment to fostering a positive employee experience helps maintain the people-first culture that defines Dietary Solutions, ensuring that every team member is well-equipped to serve clients with professionalism and care.

Portrait of Marcy Cook, Regional Director of Operations

Marcy Cook

Regional Director of Operations

Marcy Cook serves as a Regional Director of Operations at Dietary Solutions, bringing extensive experience as a dietetics and post-acute care leader. She specializes in supporting regulatory compliance, client service, and professional education, all while prioritizing the health and well-being of residents and patients. Marcy's regional leadership provides essential mentorship and facility-level support to organizations across her service area, helping them navigate the complexities of nutrition and food service management in post-acute care settings. Her dedication to combining clinical expertise with operational excellence ensures that client facilities receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs. Marcy's contributions align closely with Dietary Solutions' mission of delivering real, people-first solutions that produce meaningful results for the communities and organizations she serves.

Portrait of Dawn Howard, Regional Director of Operations

Dawn Howard

Regional Director of Operations

Dawn Howard is a Regional Director of Operations at Dietary Solutions, bringing valuable experience as a nutrition and dietetics professional with a strong background in clinical nutrition and food service management. Her work is centered on gerontological nutrition and resident care, making her particularly well-suited to support skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care facilities across her region. Dawn provides critical regional leadership, mentorship, and operational support to help client organizations maintain compliance and deliver optimal nutrition outcomes for the residents and patients they serve. Her focus on resident-centered care reflects Dietary Solutions' broader commitment to empathy, collaboration, and authenticity in every service engagement, ensuring that facilities receive knowledgeable, compassionate support tailored to their specific operational and clinical needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Registered Dietitian do in a senior living facility?

A Registered Dietitian assesses residents’ nutritional needs, helps develop individualized nutrition interventions, and contributes to care planning and clinical documentation. The RD may review weight changes, dietary restrictions, hydration concerns, meal intake, supplements, and nutrition-related risks. They also collaborate with nursing, providers, dietary staff, residents, and families to support appropriate nutrition care and satisfying dining experiences.

Does every senior living facility need a Registered Dietitian?

How often should an RD visit a senior living community?

Can an interim RD help during a staffing vacancy?

How does an RD support regulatory compliance?

What is the difference between a consultant RD and a permanent RD?

Can an RD help improve senior living menus and meal service?

What should a facility look for when hiring an RD partner?

Questions About RD Support Options?

Speak with our team about nutrition, staffing, and dietary operations.

Credentialed Expertise

Awards and Recognition

Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition credential

Gerontological Nutrition Specialist

Specialized expertise supporting older adult nutrition needs.

Certified Registered Dietitian Support credential

Nutrition Support Credential

Advanced nutrition support knowledge for complex care.

ServSafe certified food service credential

ServSafe Certification

Food service safety expertise for dietary operations.

Strengthen Your Nutrition Program

Share your facility’s staffing or consulting needs, and our team will help identify the right support.

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