Abstract
The role of foodservices in aged care is difficult to understand, and strategies to improve the nutritional care of residents are often unsustainable. In particular, food-first strategies such as food fortification are poorly executed in everyday practice and its execution relies upon the foodservice system in aged care homes. The aim of this study was to explore the perspective of staff on the role of foodservices in aged care and gauge the level of skills, education, access, time, and ability to deliver food fortification. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with foodservice managers, foodservice workers, dietitians, carers, and other managers who work in aged care homes across Australia. Participants were recruited purposively through email and through snowballing. Interviews (n = 21) were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Three themes and six sub-themes were identified. The three themes include the role of foodservices being more than just serving food, teamwork between all staff to champion nutrition, and workplace culture that values continuous improvement. These themes identify how staff perceive the role of foodservices in aged care and provide an important perspective on the long-term sustainability of food fortification strategies and how to improve current practice.
Highlights
IntroductionFor more than 20 years, the residential aged care sector in Australia has been highly criticized
KapsokefalouFor more than 20 years, the residential aged care sector in Australia has been highly criticized
Workforce shortages in aged care will continue to be a significant challenge in Australia, with predictions that by 2050 there will be a shortage of 980,000 staff in the aged care sector [3]
Summary
For more than 20 years, the residential aged care sector in Australia has been highly criticized. Sustaining food fortification strategies in aged care foodservice systems in Australia is difficult. It has been postulated that the high turnover of staff, exacerbated by the low pay of Australian aged care workers and an aging workforce have been contributors. Workforce shortages in aged care will continue to be a significant challenge in Australia, with predictions that by 2050 there will be a shortage of 980,000 staff in the aged care sector [3]. Pay for aged care workers starts at $AUD21.62 per hour and is just above the minimum wage level in Australia, which in 2021 is $AUD20.33 per hour [4,5]
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