A food hotline established to field complaints and offer providers nutrition advice has been activated.
A component of the new Food, Nutrition and Dining Advisory Support Unit – which sits within the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission – the hotline gives callers access to food and nutrition experts such as dietitians.
Part of a government initiative to lift the quality and nutritiousness of food served in aged care facilities, the experts are also available to providers to help them improve meal choices and the dining experience for residents.
“What older Australians consume, and their dining experience has a significant impact on their overall wellbeing,” said Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells in a statement. “I can’t be clear enough: food must be a priority in aged care.”
The federal government established the $13-million food unit and hotline in response to the aged care royal commission which found that 68 per cent of residents were malnourished or at risk of malnourishment.
Older people, their families and carers, providers and aged care workers can call the free hotline on 1800 844 044.
There are also free online training modules available hosted by the Maggie Beer Foundation.
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I have been visiting a friend in an aged care facility for the past 6 months. She has Coeliac Disease and she fretted constantly for some months about whether her food was gluten free. While she doesn’t have dementia, she has other medical impacts on her gut and bodily functions so her concern was reality based. And, like everyone, she has food preferences which don’t seem to be catered for at all unless her friends bring things in for her. It would really help if a label indicated that her food was indeed GF each time. I know she is not alone in finding the food difficult. I see no pleasure on others’ faces at mealtime.