A recent, world-first study found that increasing dairy consumption among aged care residents significantly reduces their risk of falls and fractures. While this intervention was also found to be cost-effective, at less than $1 per resident per day, dairy intakes in residential aged care still fall short. In this podcast, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Louise Murray, shares her first-hand experience of how dietitians can confidently start conversations with staff to enhance menu offerings and boost resident’s nutritional intakes. Louise also shares her top tips for starting at a new facility and ways to overcome implementation challenges.
Biography
Louise Murray is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, specialising in aged care nutrition. She initially started her career in clinical nutrition however, the opportunity arose as a new grad to review an aged care menu. Her determination was ignited to remove party pies and sausage rolls from aged care menus, and it has become her passion to improve food quality for older people over the past 19 years. Her consultancy Nosh Dietitians Co now specialises in both consulting directly to aged care organisations, as well as mentoring dietitians to become leaders in aged care nutrition and food services.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Key nutritional requirements for older adults
- Why dairy is an easy, cost-effective way to improve aged care menus
- Recent changes in the aged care landscape
- Challenges of implementing menu changes and tips to overcome these
- The power of prioritising ‘quick wins’ when starting at a new facility
Additional resources
Please note whilst some dairy products are fortified with vitamin D this is not currently routine in Australian products.
This podcast is not, and is not intended to be, medical advice, which should be tailored to your individual circumstances. This podcast is for your information only, and we advise that you exercise your own judgment before deciding to use the information provided. Professional medical advice should be obtained before taking action. Please see here for terms and conditions.
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