Providers can feel overwhelmed when faced with providing food and drink choices that keep everyone happy. A ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work for care, and it doesn’t work for food and drink either.
Providing quality and variety in residential aged care means offering meals that nourish and respect each person’s preferences.
Quality and variety of food are 2 two main things that affect people’s enjoyment and satisfaction in their mealtimes.
Quality
- Food and drinks are fresh, tasty and appealing in their presentation.
- Meals, drinks and snacks are nutritious. This means they provide essential nutrients, such as:
- vitamins
- minerals
- proteins
- fats
- fibre
- carbohydrates.
- These nutrients support bodily functions and maintain health. They help sustain energy, support growth and repair and protect against diseases.
- You provide dietary requirements, such as vegetarian or lactose-free options to those who need or want them.
Variety
- Menus cater to the tastes and backgrounds of the residents who live at that service.
- Residents have the chance to choose and enjoy meals that taste good to them.
- You regularly rotate all menus (including texture-modified menus) to stop people getting bored.
In practice
When mealtimes are done well, residents get food and drinks that are safe, healthy, enjoyable and meet their individual needs.
The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards focus on rights-based care. The statement below explains what we expect people in residential aged care to be able to say about their food, nutrition and dining experience.
‘I receive plenty of food and drinks that I enjoy. Food and drinks are nutritious, appetising and safe, and meet my needs and preferences. The dining experience is enjoyable, includes variety and supports a sense of belonging.’
Standard 6 expectation statement
We asked people living in aged care across Australia to share what they think of food and dining at their service. Below are some of their responses that showed how their services were ‘getting it right’ at mealtimes.
Joseph, 87 (VIC): ‘I enjoy a cooked breakfast every day, just like I used to have at home.’
Margie, 84 (NSW): ‘I like that the staff now ask me to choose what I want from the menu on the day, instead of days in advance! I don’t know on Wednesday what I’ll feel like on Friday.’
Jon, 91 (QLD): ‘We have fish-and-chip Fridays here. They all know I don’t like chips, so they make me a potato scallop and I love it.’
Alma, 88 (QLD): ‘I gave the chef my mother’s lasagne recipe. It’s now a favourite for everyone, not just me!’
Lynette, 82 (SA): ‘The fresh fruit on the morning tea trolley is my favourite thing. It’s always something different, whatever is in season.’
This feedback from residents highlights that when it comes to mealtimes, everyone has different likes and dislikes. People are happiest when you treat them as individuals, and their preferences are heard and respected.
To find out more about how you can support residents to enjoy a variety of nutritious food and drink options, contact your dietitian. You can find an accredited practicing dietitian in your area on the Dietitians Australia website.
Our resources
- Food focus group resources
- Food and dining preferences fact sheet – a planning sheet for recording a resident’s preferences for food and dining
