Heritage Manor, an affiliate of St. Francis Health Services of Morris (SFHS), is pleased to announce the beginning of their Nutrition and Optimal Weight (NOW) Project. Over the next two years, Heritage Manor, will work collaboratively with related SFHS long term care centers to improve the overall dining experience and the nutritional status of individuals receiving services at Heritage Manor. The NOW Project is a result of SFHS’s long term care collaborative being awarded a Minnesota Nursing Facility Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) grant by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). The goal is to reduce the number of residents experiencing unexplained weight loss, increase resident and family food satisfaction, improve resident’s overall nutritional status, and to allow individuals receiving services to achieve optimal health, functioning, and wellbeing. The NOW Project will provide Heritage Manor with additional resources to make positive system improvements to support good nutritional outcomes for individuals receiving services, focusing on each individual’s preferences and needs. A big component will be implementing the Kind Dining program to improve dining room service. We hope to create an optimal environment in which food can be enjoyed.