Introduction: Dietitians have a growing opportunity to contribute to high-quality aged care, particularly following recent food, nutrition and dining aged care reforms. Currently, employment and engagement of dietitians in residential aged care facilitates (RACF) appears to vary across the sector. This qualitative study explored dietitians’ perceptions of employment status and engagement models with RACF and the impact on work activities and resident care.
Methods: Dietitians working in RACF were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. The research team developed a semi-structured interview guide, which was pilot-tested and used in each interview. Data were analysed using constant comparison and reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Thirty-one dietitians (n = 29 female) with varying experience working in different employment statuses and engagement models in RACF participated in an interview. Five themes were identified: 1) Being an employee allows for better integration and utilisation in the RACF, 2) Contract work creates a scarcity of time, 3) Ad hoc work does not meaningfully address nutrition challenges and may not be good for resident care, 4) Regularly scheduled visits support positive outcomes for residents and 5) Acknowledging many different employment models.
Conclusions: Different engagement models of dietitians working in RACF exist, possibly contributing to varied job satisfaction, individual resident care, and food service practices. Consistency of dietitian involvement in RACF could facilitate evidence-based, resident-centred dietetic practice and improve residents’ nutrition care. There is opportunity to consider policy mandates that support RACFs to regularly engage a dietitian so that all residents have access to timely, high-quality nutrition care.