The Role of Good Food In Aged Care
When it comes to ageing gracefully and maintaining your health, the role of good nutrition cannot be overstated. As we grow older, our needs may change due to various factors such as decreased appetite, changes in metabolism and the presence of chronic health conditions. For aged care providers such as Whiddon, good food plays a major role beyond just providing sustenance. It’s about fostering holistic well-being, dignity and independence for older adults.
Impact Of Nutrition on Ageing
Nutrition plays an essential role in the ageing process. Research has shown that getting enough nutrition provides several health benefits for older adults such as improved immune function, enhanced cognitive function and reduced risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Good nutrition can also significantly impact an older individual’s quality of life, promoting independence and enabling them to lead an active and fulfilling life.
Tailoring Meals To Individuals Needs
Whiddon understands just how important food is for effective aged care, which is why it forms a major part of our tailored care approach. From managing chronic conditions to accommodating dietary preferences, tailored meal plans are essential to ensuring that our residents receive the necessary nourishment while respecting their choices. Whether it’s including culturally diverse cuisines or catering to specific dietary restrictions, this approach contributes to a greater sense of satisfaction and autonomy among older adults.
Innovative Approaches To Aged Care Meals
As an award-winning care provider, we are committed to remaining at the forefront of innovation when it comes improving the quality of life for older Australians. In particular, our food services have a strong focus on resident choice.
This is most clearly reflected in the home-style kitchens within our residential aged care facilities. As the name suggests, these are dining areas that are like what you’d find in contemporary homes, where the final stage of cooking our meals happens right in front of you. This helps facilitate a stronger relationship between our food team and the people they are serving meals to, creating a more inclusive dining environment for residents and families. Other smaller pillars also continue to support our home-style kitchen initiative:
1. All-Day Dining
Our all-day dining menu fills in the gaps between designated mealtimes and provide you with the ability to eat what and when you want. This was also developed alongside a supper menu which offered more nutritious options to promote better sleep and wellbeing.
2. Foodies Group
We encourage residents and their families to meet with the food team every fortnight to discuss upcoming menus and provide feedback on past meals. This gives us the opportunity to further personalise our aged care meals and encourages participants to take an active role in the support that’s provided to them.
3. Cooking Clubs
We believe that food is a subject that people from all walks of life can connect deeply with. That’s why we offer food-related activities as part of our wellbeing programs. True to our relationship-based model of aged care, our cooking clubs are designed to allow our residents to cook something that they enjoy, while also providing an opportunity to socialise with other members of our community.
Quality Food & Dining In Aged Care
Quality aged care meals mean more than just satisfying appetites. It is an important part of care that encompasses an older adult’s wellbeing, dignity, and independence. At Whiddon, we’re proud to offer award-winning food and dining services that serve to enrich the lives of our residents and clients. For more information on how we can assist you with aged care meals, get in touch with our friendly team today.
