Food, nutrition, and the dining experience are central in the lives of older adults living in aged care homes not only to support their social, emotional, and cultural well-being but providing nutritious foods reduces adverse clinical outcomes such as falls and fractures. The Aged Care sector is undergoing significant reform in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety where, in relation to food and nutrition, inadequate nutrition, lack of eating assistance, low nutrition knowledge of staff and high rates of malnutrition were highlighted. Some changes that are occurring in the sector directly and indirectly relate to food and nutrition namely the proposed new Aged Care Act that is resident-centred and expansion of the Quality Indicators to include food and nutrition as a stand-alone quality indicator. With the many recommendations that arose from the Royal Commission this is the time to address issues related to food and nutrition and establish positive actions to improve food, nutrition, and the dining experience for older adults in aged care.

The objective of this Think Tank is to bring together the views of AAG members and conference attendees on the status of food, nutrition, and the dining experience in aged care, what changes are needed and what we should expect for older adults living in aged care.

Key points to be addressed in relation to food, nutrition and the dining experience are:

 What should older adults in aged care expect from providers?
 Which Royal Commission recommendations are pertinent and need to be actioned first?
 Do we need minimal nutritional standards for foods provided in residential aged care homes?
 Which is more important, food, nutrition, or the dining experience?

Outcomes from this Think Tank are:

1. Letter to the Minister for Aged Care*: Indication of expectation and a road map of suggested improvements in relation to food, nutrition, and the dining experience.
Process: Key points will be summarised by the convenor, and the letter formulated. The letter will be circulated to those who wish to provide comment.
Timeline: Within 2 weeks of the Think Tank.

2. Article submitted to the Australasian Journal of Ageing*: summary of the key points from the Think Tank.
Process: The article will be written by the convenor (participants are welcome to be included in this process; they will be included on the authorship list). The article will be circulated to those who wish to provide comment.
Timeline: Within 2 months of the Think Tank.


*It is optional if attendees wish to be named on the letter and in the acknowledgements of the article.