The Aged Care Quality Standards shifted how aged care providers model their catering to meet the higher expectations for food, nutrition, and the overall dining experience. Compliance is now central to all levels of operations and food delivery. This article outlines three ways Cater Care supports our clients to meet the Aged Care Quality Standards requirements.
Increased protein and calcium benchmarks across all meals (mains, soups, desserts), require regular menu review and updates to ensure ongoing compliance. Protein is vital for maintaining strength and independence in aged care residents, yet studies show typical Australian aged care menus often provide less protein than the recommended daily and per-meal targets needed to combat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia). Research indicates that consistently providing 25–30g of protein per meal is most effective for muscle synthesis and reducing frailty.¹
Older adults are susceptible to osteoporosis and should increase their calcium intake to 1,300mg per day. Research shows that increased calcium combined with higher protein, can significantly reduce fracture risk.²
We remove the stress of constant menu recalibration. Our Aged Care Compliance Manager and dietitian team routinely review our menus. Our national protein blocking menu initiative ensures residents are offered a variety of balanced, compliant meals across all meals and snacks, even with customisations. Ensuring adequate calcium is one of the simplest ways Cater Care supports residents in staying mobile and independent.
Culturally specific facilities must offer menus that honour residents’ cultural and spirituality while consistently meeting strict nutritional standards and variety expectations.
Foundationally, Cater Care ensures our staff are trained in cultural awareness and appropriate communication. This supports a continuous process to seek feedback on religious, cultural, and dietary preferences and occasions. This includes residents’ favourite meals, from residents, families, and daily care staff. Menu planning and food preparation teams must be familiar with people’s cultural heritage, regional delicacies, and religious traditions to create nutritious and traditional dishes with appealing colour and presentation. We provide traditional condiments at the table to complement meals while addressing ingredients and food sourcing/processing considerations, subject to religious or spiritual guidelines.
Cater Care provides complete cultural menu sets, and fosters a healthy, cooperative, and consultative environment among catering teams, all while maintaining thoroughly researched and up-to-date recipe folders.
The Aged Care Quality Standards emphasise resident dignity and choice, requiring residents to have greater control over what, when, and how they eat, outside of rigid meal times.
When planning healthy snacks for elderly residents, it’s important to prioritise nutrient density, ease of eating, and energy-rich options that support the unique needs of older adults. This also includes texture-modified requirements and hydration support for a range of scenarios like hot weather conditions and certain medications that compromise the body’s fluid levels and regulation processes. Hydration must be proactive, by establishing a routine of frequent, small drinks—not waiting for thirst—and incorporating varied fluids, water-rich foods, and cooling treats in an accessible environment.
Cater Care supports aged care facilities with additional innovative solutions like the 24/7 snack trolley, stocked with a variety of healthy, sweet, and savoury options. The 24/7 snack trolley is a valuable add on for facilities wanting to extend their aged care food service for their resident profile. The 24/7 snack trolley ensures resident wellbeing extends beyond mealtimes by providing continuous, dietitian-reviewed nourishment and greater choice throughout the day. Supported by smart procurement and refined by resident feedback, this thoughtful initiative not only enhances independence and brings joy but also supports compliance with new Aged Care Quality Standards, ultimately improving care outcomes and facility reputation.
Many in-house teams are struggling with the ongoing complexity and operational pressure of these new Aged Care Quality Standards, especially around compliance oversight, enhanced nutrition rules, and 24/7 service delivery.
Nutrition that supports vitality also builds the confidence of resident’s family members as well as the overall reputation of the aged care facility. Families want to know their loved ones are not only cared for but truly thriving.
With Cater Care as your partner, you can be confident each mealtime ensures compliance and nutrition with dedicated dietitian support that balances protein, calcium, food variety and choice, and culturally diverse menus.
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