Improving the diet of those in aged care
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (334404)
Rockingham, Australia
July 10, 2024 10:48pm CST
There is a new series on Australian national TV that I haven’t watched yet but it’s getting a lot of publicity.
A renowned Australian chef is endeavouring to lift the standard of meals in aged care facilities. It seems 68% of people in aged care are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. There are no specific guidelines and no mandatory malnutrition screening in aged care.
The chef is working with one facility to try to ensure the meals are palatable and healthy while not over-running the budget.
There are a number of reasons why older people are at risk of malnourishment. Chronic diseases can alter the appetite; dementia can mean people forget to eat or go shopping; ill-fitting dentures can make eating uncomfortable and problems with swallowing (dysphagia) also impact on a person's ability to enjoy their food. Loneliness, clinical depression and grief also impact on appetite. Some medications impair the absorption of nutrients.
I’m keen to watch the series so maybe I’ll write more about it another time. The photo is mine.
15 people like this
14 responses
@psanasangma (7244)
• India
11 Jul
Now, after reading why I am still confuse with shared image of fruits 
is it peaches or is it apples 
is it peaches or is it apples 2 people like this
@sallypup (59745)
• Centralia, Washington
11 Jul
Lovely fruit. One of my motivators to keep my body strong enough to get around is me not going to a nursing home. I would die of starvation in a nursing home- the general lack of fiber containing food there, let alone not having a vegetarian diet would kill me, slowly but surely.
3 people like this
@Fleura (29677)
• United Kingdom
11 Jul
We were talking about this the other day. In some places residents are given a menu but they don't even know what the names mean so they may choose inappropriate combinations. And of course eating a meal together is so much nicer than all eating separately, even if in the same room. So many reasons. I only discovered recently that lack of vitamin B12 can actually cause dementia!
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (170715)
• United States
11 Jul
This is exactly what my husband is going through. The State came in and talked to all the residents. Many complained about the food. My husband has lost about 60 pounds because the food is so terrible plus the time that he wasn't eating because of hospital delirium. The kitchen at the facility received an "F" for their food. Maybe things will improve now. Have a good day.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (159754)
• United States
11 Jul
Oh, please do. When I worked in long term care the owners of one place flat out said that people complain about the food due to boredom and lack of stimulation in the rest of their lives. They said if we did our job, enriched the lives of our residents and listened to them they would eat better and be healthier. Honestly, though, on some of those enforced diets the food just seemed gross.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jul
They do have a point but some of the food offered, according to what they're saying here, isn't nourishing enough.
@snowy22315 (176745)
• United States
11 Jul
Hats off to him. It seems like the facility LindaOH's hubby is in..needs that chef. Those peaches look so yummy. On the way back from PA we saw a farm stand with them, and i wanted to stop on the way back, but by that point we just wanted to get home.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jul
I was thinking about Linda's hubby as I was writing. The food where my Mum was wasn't too bad but it could have done with a few improvements too.
@ptrikha_2 (46478)
• India
11 Jul
There are many factors in old age.
Often a person could be physically fit but mental health parameters affect their diet.
Or mentally fit one could have physical issues.
Another factor is diet preference.
If one wants a heavy diet which one was able to afford in his or her 20's in 60's or 70's is not going to help either.
I hope the Aussie Chef is successful in his mission!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46478)
• India
12 Jul
@JudyEv
I think even other members who stay along with the elderly in a household should also see this.
A good series even for Indian audiences.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (65345)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jul
Sounds like it would be an interesting watch. George, my husband, is struggling to eat again following a stroke. 80 percent of his meals come from a feeding tube. it's hard on him, but he's not able to take enough in at once.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul
I can imagine that is very hard for your husband. No fun at all.
@luisadannointed (4283)
• Philippines
11 Jul
that is so sad, but I hope their families can also help by bringing them healthy food in a week if not everyday, not expensive but healthy. thank you for sharing this info. I hope we can make a better life for our oldies.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jul
Aged care is quite expensive here and I think families don't believe they should have to take food in but of course that would help.
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
11 Jul
I mentioned this to Linda: as people get older their sense of taste changes, and in a lot of cases diminishes. It seems that the “nursing homes” here take that as a “universal truth” and provide no flavor whatsoever to the food.
I hope they have that show on YouTube or someplace online so others can watch it. (I can actually watch Australian news online!)
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
12 Jul
@JudyEv — thank you!
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