News

The dietetic aged care workforce is growing, and soon, there will be more work for dietitians in aged care! If the recent recommendations by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety are achieved, a dietitian will be required to see every resident for one hour per month, and with over 240,000 permanent residential aged care residents, that will create a lot of dietitian jobs!

Why aged care?

Besides hearing fascinating stories about the life of a person, in aged care, you will:

• Improve the health and quality of life of older people.
• Have a mix of clinical and food service work.
• Work with a range of health professionals and staff, from nurses to chefs to Geriatricians.

What types of patients will I see?

In aged care, you will see a range of patients with different and often multiple conditions. These include:

• Malnutrition- approximately 50% of aged care residents have malnutrition or at risk.
• Acute and chronic diseases such as dementia, frailty, sarcopenia, constipation, anaemia, urinary tract infections, heart disease, diabetes, and mood disorders.
• Prevention and management of wounds, pressure injuries and falls.
• Patients receiving palliative or end of life care.

What nutritional challenges do older people face?

The ageing process includes many changes for the body. These include poor dental health, conditions that affect swallowing such as dysphagia, poor appetite, mental health issues, reduced taste, poor coordination for self-feeding and disabilities. These changes can impair eating and drinking well and having adequate nutrition. Nutrients of concern include:

• Energy and protein (to prevent muscle loss).
• Calcium (to reduce the risk of breaks and fractures).
• Vitamin D (to prevent thinner, more fragile, and brittle bones).
• Fluid (to prevent dehydration).
• Fibre + fluid (to promote regular bowels and relieve constipation).

How to upskill and keep up to date in aged care nutrition?

There are many courses, webinars, and readings to upskill and keep up to date in aged care.

Firstly, look at the new Older People and Aged Care Dietitian Role Statement. It provides a comprehensive list of knowledge, skills and activities required in aged care by a dietitian.
Consider Dietitians Australia Courses- Translating the Aged Care Quality Standards, Food Service Management for Dietitians and New Aged Care Course (coming soon).
Watch webinars- Education in Nutrition have a suite of presentations as well as Dietitians Australia Resource Library
Keep up to date with changes to policies, procedures, and guidelines such as Aged Care Quality Standards and recommendations implemented by the Royal Commission.
Understand and be familiar with International Dysphasia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework for thickened liquids and texture modified meals and Dietitians Australia Menu and Mealtime Quality Assessment for Residential Aged Care document.
Consider further training in dementia and palliative care.

Where to look for work?

Currently, aged care facilities choose whether to enlist a dietitian service or have a dietitian contracted to the facility or visit on an ad hoc basis.

Private practice dietitians are often the dietitians contracted or subcontracted to an aged care facility.

I wish you all the best in your future career as an aged care dietitian!

Karly Bartrim is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and academic inspired to improve the lives of older people through optimising nutrition. Previously working as a dietitian in aged care, she saw the importance that dietitians play in supporting older people. This motivated her to start a PhD exploring dietitians' competence working in home care services and in residential aged care facilities. Karly hopes that this research is the beginning of a lifelong career dedicated to improving nutrition in the aged care sector.