Diabetes is a common condition in older people. It occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood due to the body not making enough insulin or effectively using the insulin that it makes.

Providers can feel overwhelmed when faced with providing food and drink choices that keep everyone happy.

For many older people, support is often focused on providing care to them, rather than giving them an active role in that care. Reablement is about supporting older people to keep or get back the skills they need for everyday life.

Eggs are a comforting favourite on breakfast menus. Part of why we love them is because we can use them in so many ways. They’re easy to prepare and a great source of nutrition. But in residential aged care, the runny egg has become the (gooey) centre of a debate about food safety and resident choice.

Continuous improvement in aged care is an ongoing effort to improve an organisation’s care and services. It’s a way services can use feedback to learn and grow stronger.

In the lead-up to NAIDOC week – 6 to 13 July – it’s important to talk about the unique food, nutrition and dining needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in aged care.

Mealtimes are more than just a break in the day for people in aged care. They’re essential for health, dignity and enjoyment of life. Planning and creating a menu that is healthy, safe and tasty takes teamwork.

Nutrition and hydration are essential for older people’s health and wellbeing. While 3 main meals are vital, snacks between meals should be offered to support overall health.

As we age, we aim to stay independent by doing everyday tasks. These tasks may include planning and preparing meals and enjoying meals with others.

Food connects us to our family, friends, culture and traditions. It brings us together. Aged care providers have a role to play in celebrating cultural diversity, through special mealtimes and events for people receiving care.

Barbecues are a summer tradition for many people. They offer tasty food and a social dining experience. However, for older people who have difficulty and require texture-modified foods, planning a safe and enjoyable barbecue requires extra care.

Asking for regular feedback from residents about their mealtime experiences and providing information on what you’ll do to fix any issues that come out of the feedback, empowers residents and gives you valuable information about how you can improve the care and services you deliver.

Worth more than the paper they are written on - well-designed menus support residents’ health, mealtime enjoyment, and quality of life.

Occupational therapists empower older adults, including those with dementia, to enjoy meaningful mealtime experiences that promote engagement and independence.

Protein supports health, immunity and physical ability.

Some great examples of how providers are helping residents who find it difficult to communicate to be independent and make their own choices.

Proactive and regular malnutrition screening is crucial for older people to detect, prevent and treat malnutrition as early as possible.

Engaging mealtimes can improve a person’s quality of life.

Cultural considerations in food, nutrition, and dining are paramount in aged care, especially as the population ages and becomes more diverse.

Actively involving older people in discussions about their care can help providers make sure their services are the highest possible standard.

Some aged care services are using VR headset technology and apps to improve mealtime experiences.  

We’ve compiled our observations from visits to aged care services that are having a positive impact on people with dementia.

Older people can develop eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) that increase the risk of something going wrong when they eat or drink (such as choking or inhaling food particles or liquid).

The end of year in Australia means warmer weather which can mean an increased risk of dehydration.

The importance of food can’t be overstated. Along with the obvious nutritional benefits for physical health, food plays an important role in our mental wellbeing.

Making sure that people living with dementia get enough daily nutrition can be a challenge for those who care for them.

Our theme to inspire you is the ‘Happy Hour Trolley’. Think mocktails and fun snacks!

Food and the experience of eating are important and enjoyable facets of everyday life for most people. Getting to choose what you want to eat is something most people also take for granted. 

Providers and aged care staff each have a role to play in delivering the right dining experience for every resident in their care. Thoughtful actions, even small ones, can lead to significant resident satisfaction.

When it comes to food, dining and nutrition, empowering residents to dine with dignity and ensuring a safe and enjoyable mealtime experience is as important as providing them with nutrition and hydration to maintain good health and quality of life.

Food and dining should be enjoyable, respectful, safe and based on what people living in residential aged care like and don’t like.

An Indigenous residential aged care home has a standing agenda item at its residents’ meetings dedicated to the food and the dining experience.