Infuse Issue 14 October 2021 | Page 19

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
The findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety are now publicly available . There is also some preliminary government response and funding commitments .

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