Dietitians : nutrition leaders in aged care settings
Judi Porter , Professor in Dietetics at Deakin University
Few Australian dietitians missed the narrative presented to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety . There were images and descriptions of malnourished elders and poor-quality meals … but excellence in care and foodservice were concurrently on display .
The challenges of delivering high quality nutrition care within this sector are well known to many dietitians . For example :
• Inconsistency in staff knowledge and skills to support care delivery
• Inconsistency in staff knowledge and skills to focus on nutrition
• Insufficient menu budgets
Now is the time for us to consider the future of dietitians leading nutrition care in aged care settings .
© Dietitian Connection 19 Infuse | October 2021