Inside aged care: what our elderly Australians are eating may shock you
Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia.
Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy.
But some do not.
"Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said.
But party pies were not that unusual either, she said.
"It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission."
The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading.
It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes.
Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement."
Search below for an aged care home:
It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident.
Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found.
In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents.
The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day.
Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically.
"They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano.
"And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying."
A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care.
"With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility."
"There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said.
The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase".
The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92.
Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government.
Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes.
"We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said.
"While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels".
The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025.
It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act.
"The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care."
The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said.
"The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said.
Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread.
For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding.
It could be the menu of a premium restaurant.
Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina.
Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents.
Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site.
"This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said.
Not all aged care residents are so lucky.
Do you know more? Email the journalist: carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance.
Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia.
Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy.
But some do not.
"Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said.
But party pies were not that unusual either, she said.
"It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission."
The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading.
It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes.
Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement."
Search below for an aged care home:
It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident.
Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found.
In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents.
The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day.
Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically.
"They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano.
"And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying."
A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care.
"With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility."
"There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said.
The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase".
The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92.
Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government.
Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes.
"We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said.
"While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels".
The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025.
It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act.
"The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care."
The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said.
"The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said.
Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread.
For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding.
It could be the menu of a premium restaurant.
Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina.
Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents.
Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site.
"This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said.
Not all aged care residents are so lucky.
Do you know more? Email the journalist: carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance.
Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia.
Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy.
But some do not.
"Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said.
But party pies were not that unusual either, she said.
"It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission."
The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading.
It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes.
Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement."
Search below for an aged care home:
It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident.
Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found.
In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents.
The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day.
Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically.
"They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano.
"And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying."
A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care.
"With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility."
"There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said.
The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase".
The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92.
Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government.
Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes.
"We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said.
"While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels".
The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025.
It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act.
"The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care."
The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said.
"The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said.
Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread.
For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding.
It could be the menu of a premium restaurant.
Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina.
Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents.
Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site.
"This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said.
Not all aged care residents are so lucky.
Do you know more? Email the journalist: carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance.
Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia.
Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy.
But some do not.
"Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said.
But party pies were not that unusual either, she said.
"It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission."
The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading.
It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes.
Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement."
Search below for an aged care home:
It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident.
Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found.
In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents.
The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day.
Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically.
"They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano.
"And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying."
A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care.
"With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility."
"There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said.
The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase".
The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92.
Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government.
Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes.
"We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said.
"While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels".
The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025.
It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act.
"The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care."
The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said.
"The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said.
Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread.
For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding.
It could be the menu of a premium restaurant.
Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina.
Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents.
Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site.
"This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said.
Not all aged care residents are so lucky.
Do you know more? Email the journalist: carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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