Introduction: Malnutrition was identified by the 2021 Royal Commission as a national crisis in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), with up to 68% of residents malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.1 Malnutrition leads to increased risks of falls and fractures, delayed healing, and increased infections, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.1 Despite its importance, little is known about how RACFs manage malnutrition. This study aims to investigate current usual care practices undertaken by RACFs to identify and assist residents who are malnourished.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive design. Participants were facility managers, clinical managers, facility chefs, and lifestyle coordinators. Participants discussed their perceptions of malnutrition and usual care practices n 30-minute online group semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. 

Results: Seven staff participated from three RACFs. Participants were able to describe the steps involved to assess malnutrition risk, and the action pathway as per their organisational policy. The overall concepts identified included: i) triggers and indicators for identifying malnutrition, ii) communicating with the interprofessional team: verbal and system communication, iii) Intervening: referrals and treatment implementation, iv) documenting the process.

Conclusions: The processes required to identify and treat malnutrition were well described although do not always align with best-practice guidelines. Additional interviews are ongoing to support this work. Future work should consider the factors influencing the integration of best-practice evidence into organisational policy and for translation into practice.

1 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2021). Final report: Care, Dignity and Respect.