A ‘food first’ approach to optimise nutrition and prevent unintentional weight loss or malnutrition is deemed best practice within the aged care sector. Good nutrition becomes increasingly important as people age. To meet these nutritional requirements, residents are encouraged to eat small regular meals frequently throughout the day. Foods and drinks should be ‘nutrient dense’...
Did you know that dietary care provided by a dietitian can assist with the management of wound healing and pressure injuries? The skin is the largest organ of the body and undergoes significant changes during the ageing process. As the layers of the skin change, its normal function as a barrier to infection, protection, temperature,...
Adults over 65 years are more likely to be affected by sarcopenia. Sarcopenia refers to an age- related loss of muscle which results in a loss of strength and muscle function. The risk of sarcopenia increases with age. Why are older adults more prone to falls? Sarcopenia is caused by a number of factors, including:...
Vitamin D intake has long been associated with the maintenance of bone health in older adults, but also in the management of Dementia. Many studies have established the importance of adequate Vitamin D levels in the management of various conditions including cognitive decline, dementia, depression, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer (Meehan &...
Picture this: you walk into a nice restaurant – it feels calm, pleasant, and inviting. Everything has been designed to put you in the mood for eating. What does the dining room in that restaurant look like? How does it put you in the mood for eating? How can we translate the look and feel...
As part of the new AN-ACC funding model, many homes will now also be required to complete the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk to determine the residents’ needs in your home. In the nutrition section of the Braden Scale assessment tool, you will need to assess: What constitutes a serve of meat? The...
Food waste is a large problem in residential aged care (Unilever Food Solutions, 2022). In NSW it is reported that food businesses, including residential aged care facilities (RACF’s), discard one third of the food served as waste (Unilever Food Solutions, 2022). It has been found that “the NSW Aged Care sector alone generates a massive...
We all experience grief differently and respond to death and dying from the perspective of our own personal, spiritual or cultural beliefs. For some, the topic is very difficult to contemplate, let alone discuss, while others are more comfortable talking about and navigating the challenges that arise during this natural part of life. It is...
Good nutrition is an essential ingredient for wound healing and prevention. Did you know that pressure injury prevalence has been reported to be 16-23% in combined hospital and residential aged care populations? (1,2) Chronic leg ulcers affect 1-3% of people aged over 60 years, with incidence increasing up to 5-10% in the 80+ age group....
Helping someone to eat can significantly improve the experience of mealtimes for everyone involved. Remember helping someone doesn’t necessarily mean physically assisting someone to eat. Wherever possible, everyone is encouraged to eat independently if they can. Here are some tips to empower you in helping beyond ‘feeding’ someone. Be mindful, each person will benefit from...
