This National Stroke Week (3-9 August), the theme is F.A.S.T. Heroes. Our teams in aged care are often the first to notice when something isn't quite right. Recognising the signs of stroke makes you a F.A.S.T hero too. Face drooped?Arms – can they lift both?Speech – is it slurred or difficult to understand?Time – follow your...

What Your Team Needs to Know About GLP-1 Use in Aged Care There is a notable increase in the prescription of GLP medications such as Ozempic in aged care.  Whilst these medications are beneficial for metabolism and  heart heath, they can also have side effects such as reducing appetite, weight and blood glucose levels and...

Sarcopenia: Age-Related Muscle Loss, Explained Simply As we get older, it’s normal for our bodies to change. One of the most important – and often overlooked – changes is the gradual loss of muscle. This condition is called sarcopenia, and it can have a big impact on strength, mobility, independence and quality of life for...

In Aged Care we often see BMI (Body Mass Index) used as a quick health check. However, BMI alone can be misleading in older adults.  Research shows the “healthy” BMI range for older adults is higher compared with younger people.  Not the Whole Picture The lowest risk of death in older adults is at a...

GORD or Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease is the term used for a condition where the stomach acid rises up into the oesophagus (food pipe) and sometimes into the throat. This can cause symptoms such as heartburn, tasting acid in the mouth, chest pain, indigestion, burping and persistent night-time cough.  GORD is the most common upper gastrointestinal...

Antibiotics are widely used in residential aged care facilities to treat a variety of infections. One of the side effects of these medications is diarrhoea. Probiotics have been found to assist in the control of antibiotic diarrhoea. What is Antibiotic Associated Diarrhoea? Antibiotic Associated Diarrhoea (AAD) is diarrhoea that occurs when taking antibiotics that can’t...

With the release of the Strengthened Aged Care standards there is a heightened focus on protein intake within aged care settings. The legislation now mandates alignment with the Dietitians Australia Menu and Mealtime Quality Assessment Tool, which is the nationally recognised standard for evaluating menus in residential aged care. One of the key principles of the updated standards...

This article follows on from our recent article on the “Food First Approach” to optimising nutrition. Some residents are not able to meet their nutritional requirements with food alone and require nutrition supplements.  As the term suggests, nutritional supplements are used to ‘supplement’ the diet, not to replace it. Supplements are most effective when they...

Partnering with older people on Food and Nutrition Strengthened Aged Care Standard 6.1 focuses on working with your residents and in doing so also making continuous improvements to the food service. As everyone works towards being compliant with the long awaited Strengthened Aged Care Standards, now is a good time to start thinking about how...

Is your aged care facility ready for the malnutrition screening Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards? Do you currently screen your residents using a validated malnutrition screening tool or have systems in place for this? Standard 5.5.5 of the new Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards The provider implements processes to maintain an older person’s nutrition and...