Submitted to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (June 2020).

Our submission discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aged care system. It discusses what we have learnt and how the government's response can be improved for the future.

Access to Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) for the residential aged care system was decreased due to visitor restrictions during the pandemic. Potential implications of this include

• malnutrition
• intensified rates of wounds, pressure injuries and falls
• decreased access to nutritious food and drinks

Our submission discusses these implications and our recommendations for the future including access to telehealth services.

For more, download our full submission.