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Who we serve
Resouces
Products
Who we are
P 972-238-7200 | F 972-238-7733
With Navjot Dhillon, Dietary Manager at Tyndall Seniors Village
When disaster strikes, it reveals the true strength of a team. On July 16th, 2024, the staff at Tyndall Seniors Village faced an unimaginable crisis—a massive flood that submerged their main floor, forcing an emergency evacuation of residents. Yet, in the face of adversity, they rose to the occasion, demonstrating resilience, quick thinking and an unbreakable commitment keep those they serve not only safe, but nourished.
Photo credit: CHCH
It started as a heavy rainfall, something the area has seen before. But this time, the creek beside Tyndall Seniors Village overflowed beyond control.
“Nobody ever suspected that that kind of overflow could happen," recalls Navjot.
"The water just gushed in. It broke down our dining room windows. It broke down our lounge windows. It broke down our kitchen windows."
The entire main floor, where meal service, offices, and essential storage were located, was submerged in water above waist height.
With no time to spare, staff lead an evacuation to the second floor. "Our environmental manager immediately announced, ‘Everybody, evacuate the main floor and go to the second floor’.”
Despite the chaos, the team’s instincts took over. After ensuring residents were safe, staff held onto one another, pulling colleagues to safety as they waded through the rapidly rising water.
The flood didn’t just force residents out of their building—it uprooted their home. Emergency responders arrived, but the task of relocating residents to hotels and other care homes required careful planning. "It was devastating to see the residents walking out of the home with just a handful of things,” Navjot added.
With the main kitchen destroyed and food supplies ruined, the team had to act fast. Residents needed to eat, but preparing meals in an emergency was no easy task.
"You cannot just order from a restaurant and call it a day. You needed to figure out blenders, you had to blend food, you had to keep track of everyone's diets," Navjot explained, as many of the residents were on texture-modified diets.
She and her team scrambled to gather supplies, sourcing blenders, disposable dishware and non-perishable foods. "We packed my car with water, applesauce, cookies—anything to get food in their hands."
Local businesses, staff members, and even other senior care homes stepped up to help. “What impacted me was how the entire industry came together... they closed their sites and supported us with everything. Whatever possible to make sure that our residents get a bed to sleep, a comfortable place to stay, food to eat,” Navjot added.
The dedication of the Tyndall foodservice team was remarkable. When Navjot asked her staff if they wanted to go home, or join her on her mission to get residents fed safely across all sites, their response was clear: "We’re going to go with you. That’s our job, and we’re going to do it."
Navjot coordinated food delivery to multiple locations, ensuring that displaced residents were fed despite the logistical challenges. "We had to blend food in hotel conference rooms at midnight. The last resident was fed at 2 AM," she explained.
This crisis reinforced the importance of teamwork, preparation and community support. "Resilience is the word. Being in a foodservice or being in a long-term care, resilience is a word that you have to remember."
In the midst of the disaster, having foodservice software with resident diets was a huge relief. “Having MealSuite handy was a blessing that day because I could just download and e-mail out reports... giving them instructions like what their therapeutic needs are so they can provide residents the correct texture and correct diet.”
This story is a testament to the resilience, dedication, and heart of those working in senior living foodservice. "We don’t always get the limelight. But definitely, I can say there's a lot of work behind the scenes that happens to just support our residents' well-being,” Navjot concluded.
The flood may have tested them, but it did not break them. Instead, it showcased the unwavering commitment of an entire industry to those who depend on them most.