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We are publishing this resource in draft form to assist providers, workers and

older people to prepare for the Aged Care Act 2024.

This content remains draft and will be updated after the new Act and Aged Care

Rules 2025 come into force.

Strengthen Aged Care Quality Standard 6, Food and Nutrition, requires registered

providers to work with older people to find out what they like to eat and

This recognises that having access to nutritionally adequate food is a

fundamental human right.

As a provider, this means asking older people in your care about what and how

they like to eat and drink and supporting them in their choices, even

may come with some risks.

Strength and Quality Standard 6 is intended to apply only to residential

homes.

focuses on ensuring your service provides older people with food and

are full of flavour, appetising and nutritious.

This also applies to texture -modified diet.

The expected outcomes of Strength and Quality Standard 6 are Outcome 6 .1,

partnering with individuals on food and drinks.

This outcome explains how to partner with older people to make sure food and

drink are appealing and meet older people's needs and preferences.

It also explains how food and drink contribute to a dining experience that

promotes quality of life.

Outcome 6 .2, Assessment of Nutritional Needs and Preferences.

This outcome reinforces a need to assess nutritional needs and preferences in

residential care homes.

It aims to improve the older person's health and wellbeing by identifying and

addressing specific dietary requirements and preferences, preventing

malnutrition and dehydration, respecting individual choices and cultural

backgrounds, improving meal satisfaction, supporting specialised

promoting independence.

Outcome 6 .3, provision of food and drink, explains that providers need to

develop menus that are appetising, nutritious, flavoursome and contain meal

variety and choice.

Outcome 6 .4, dining experience, explains the need to make sure that

enough workers available to help older people with eating and drinking as

needed. This outcome aims to support providers with fostering a dining

environment that promotes a sense of belonging, social engagement, reablement

and enjoyment.

In this strength and quality standard, some of the actions relate to new topics

or expectations.

The remaining actions are either in line with or clarify the current quality

standards or other existing provider responsibilities.

Strength and Quality Standard 6 has key topics that connect with Strength and

Quality Standard 5.

To apply Strength and Quality Standard 6 in practice, you should make sure you

have clearly documented systems and processes.

Use monitoring tools to show how staff are following these processes and find

opportunities for improvement.

Work with people receiving care to understand their experiences and care

outcomes. Observe how your service provides care.

Ask for feedback from your governing body, managers, workers, people you care

for and others involved in the delivery of care and services.

Use feedback to improve your care and services.

As a provider, you must understand your responsibilities to plan and monitor the

food preferences of older people so you can achieve positive health outcomes.

The Commission has a range of resources available to support you to take action

and achieve the outcome of Strength and Quality Standard 6 Food and Nutrition.

You can access these resources from the Commission's website.