Healthy eating is important for our health at any age, and if you’re thinking about moving into an Aged Care Residence (sometimes called aged care homes or nursing homes), you might be concerned about what you’ll eat there, and how it might be different from the diet you’re used to.
When you choose an aged care home, you’re not just choosing a place to live – you’re choosing a place to trust in your care and wellbeing. At TriCare, we believe that nutrition is one of the key foundations of seniors’ overall health and wellbeing. Therefore, each of our Aged Care Residences is designed not just as a comfortable living space, but also as a nurturing environment where every aspect of our residents’ health is carefully considered – and that includes your dietary needs.
If you’re considering Residential Aged Care, understanding how TriCare nourishes and supports the dietary health of our residents is important to know.
The importance of nutrition in Aged Care homes
As our lives and bodies change with age, our nutritional needs change with us. Poor nutrition in older adults can lead to a wide range of negative effects, including a weakened immune system, decreased muscle strength, an increased risk of falls and fractures, and more. That’s why at TriCare, we strive to provide nutritious as well as delicious meals that cater to each of our residents’ individual specific dietary requirements to ensure you are fueled with the right food to live your best possible life.
TriCare’s approach to dietary health
We know proper dietary health is integral for our residents’ quality of life, and we understand that nutritional needs are different for everyone. Here at TriCare, we take a multi-faceted approach to dietary health, so you can be rest assured that your loved one’s health needs will be treated carefully and individually.
1. We tailor meal plans to our residents
Upon arrival, our dietitians will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your nutritional needs, taking into account several factors such as:
– Medical conditions
– Dietary restrictions
– Personal preferences
– Cultural and religious requirements.
We then design our delicious seasonal menus in consultation with dietitians and residents to cater to any special dietary needs. Our chefs are trained and experienced in catering to any type of dietary requirement, ensuring everyone can enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal. These can include diabetic-friendly meals, low-sodium options, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan meal plans, and of course, texture-modified or pureé diets are also available for seniors with swallowing difficulties.
This individualised approach ensures that each resident receives the nutrition they need, as our chef ensures meals are balanced and delicious so that you can enjoy meals that are both nutritious and enjoyable.
2. We use seasonal produce and high quality ingredients
Good nutrition starts with quality ingredients. That’s why we source fresh, high-quality produce and ingredients for all our meals. When designing the menu for each residence, our expert chefs ensure we’re using the best seasonal produce available to ensure the food is as tasty and nutritionally rich as possible.
3. Residents are always provided variety and choice
We believe eating food should always be a pleasure, not a chore. Meal times are always an event to look forward to in our Aged Care homes, as each of our chefs provides residents with a diverse menu that changes regularly, offering a wide range of options. From traditional favourites to culturally specific dinner parties, our menus are designed to delight all of our residents and cater to all tastes while always taking care to meet everyone’s nutritional requirements.
4. Residents can enjoy a social dining experience every meal
Since each of our Aged Care Residences are neighbourly communities filled with friends and caring staff, all of our meals TriCare are social events. Our dining rooms are designed to encourage interaction and conversation, making mealtimes enjoyable, social occasions that reduce feelings of isolation for all of our senior residents. However, any residents who would like to enjoy their meal in private are welcome to do so, and it will be organised by one of the nurses.
We also always encourage family involvement in our residents’ dietary care and meal times. Family members and friends are welcome to join their loved ones for any meal and our dietitians and chefs are always open to feedback, concerns or preferences expressed by loved ones.
5. Our meal plans are continually adapted
We know that change is inevitable, that’s why our residents’ nutritional needs are continually assessed and their meal plans adjusted accordingly. This ensures that as you or your loved one’s dietary needs change, or health problems arise, we evolve our nutrition plan to match and fulfil any requirements.
To learn more about our nutritional approach or to schedule a tour of one of our Aged Care Residences, please call 1300 874 2273 or click the button below.
