Food plays an important role in daily life, especially in senior living. It can transform a day, spark conversation, help someone feel remembered, or bring back a favorite memory. Families often ask about meals early during their assisted living or memory care search because dining reveals so much about the culture of a community and how residents are cared for.
This year, Sunrise at Hunter Mill was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Senior Living community in Oakton, Virginia, for both Assisted Living and Memory Care. The community also received a Food and Dining accolade for each level of senior care. These honors reflect the strength of the dining experience at Sunrise at Hunter Mill and the role it plays in helping residents feel comfortable, supported, and at home.
“Dining is a big part of a resident’s day,” Executive Director Isha Subedi shared. “We take it seriously, because it affects engagement and overall satisfaction. Our team truly cares about their work, and you can feel that when you walk into our dining room.”
How Senior Living Dining Makes a Difference
One new resident recently toured several communities in the Northern Virginia area. She wanted a place with strong communication, a good reputation, and most of all, excellent food. After visiting Sunrise at Hunter Mill twice for lunch and meeting Dining Services Coordinator Mario Labrador, her decision became clear.
“She tasted Mario’s cooking and knew this was the right place,” Isha explained. “She even compared her experience to another high-end provider she visited. The difference was the quality and care she felt here.”
During one of her visits, Mario served sweet and sour chicken with perfectly cooked rice. On another, she discovered the breakfast she now looks forward to regularly: fresh blueberry pancakes. Senior living meals like these helped her feel an immediate sense of comfort and familiarity, something that became a deciding factor in her move.
How Sunrise at Hunter Mill Creates Personalized Dining Experiences
When Mario talks about his approach to food at Sunrise, he focuses on one simple goal: make residents feel cared for by honoring their preferences and never dismissing their requests.
“We never say we don’t have something,” he said. “If we can make it happen, we do. And if someone needs something extra, I deliver it myself.”
This approach is felt every day in the dining room. When a vegetarian resident cannot eat items on the main menu, he prepares homemade options like quinoa salads, veggie burgers, or vegetable fried rice. And when a new resident mentioned her love for Palestinian dishes, the team prepared one as part of her welcome meal.
“It is the little things,” Mario shared. “They make people feel seen.”
An Innovative Senior Living Dining Program with Resident-Driven Menus
Residents play an active role in shaping the senior living dining menu at Sunrise at Hunter Mill. The community hosts a well-attended monthly food committee meeting, where residents share feedback and suggest new ideas. Mario also leads cooking demonstrations, including a popular sushi-making session that filled the Bistro with excitement, conversation, and laughter. Weekly chef specials on Tuesdays and Catch of The Day every Friday adds variety and creativity to the menu.
Special Moments That Bring Senior Living Residents Together
Special events highlight the heart of Sunrise at Hunter Mill’s dining program. During the recent Veterans Day celebration, residents, families, and even former short-term stay residents gathered to enjoy BBQ beef brisket and Mario’s signature stuffed chicken with spinach, peppers, and lemon-caper sauce. The brisket quickly became a favorite, and several guests stopped to compliment the meal on their way out. A few former residents even joked that they might move in just to enjoy Mario’s cooking every day.
Senior living events like this bring people together and give residents and families meaningful moments to share. The U.S. News Food and Dining honor reflects this commitment. It recognizes the consistent quality, creativity, and hospitality that shapes the dining experience at Sunrise at Hunter Mill and helps residents feel at home.
If you are interested in experiencing the community firsthand, you are welcome to visit, tour the neighborhood, and try a meal prepared by the dining team. To learn more or schedule a visit, explore Sunrise at Hunter Mill here.