Dietitians Australia is urging the strained aged care sector to add food and nutrition to its priorities throughout the current crisis.

Dietitians Australia is strongly urging the Australian Government’s taskforce for COVID-19 deaths to investigate the direct link between malnutrition and the severity of the virus.

Engaging Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) to support food and nutrition in aged care is projected to save more than $80 million per year which would otherwise be spent on costly malnutrition treatment.

Hospitalisation data released today by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety further emphasises Dietitians Australia’s call for mandatory malnutrition screening and quarterly re-screening of aged care residents.

Tackling malnutrition by elevating the importance of nutritious food for older Australians is Dietitians Australia’s key focus at tomorrow’s National Congress on Food, Nutrition, and the Dining Experience in Aged Care.

Food and nutrition has been identified as one of four concerns requiring immediate attention in the Final Report handed down by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety today.

Dietitians Australia welcomes the increase in the basic daily fee for aged care homes, announced as a part of the Federal Government’s 2021-22 budget. But without mandatory malnutrition screening, this is money down the drain.

Senator the Honourable Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, today shared how dietitians are a key part in creating generational change in aged care to ensure older Australians are adequately nourished.

Sent January 2021 - Dietitians Australia wrote to Hon Mark Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, and Clare O'Neil MP, Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, following news of their appointments. And to request a meeting to discuss the role dietitians play in the health and wellbeing of older adults.

Sent April 2021 - Dietitians Australia expresses concern about continued raised rates of ‘unintentional weight loss’ in residential aged care homes. This was sent to the Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, requesting a meeting to discuss.