Northern Health’s Dietetics, Speech Pathology and Food Services departments, with support from Support Services and Ian Brand Residential Care management, have led the implementation of a new style of texture modified meals at Bundoora Centre’s Ian Brand Residential Care.

Texture modified meals are provided to patients and residents across Northern Health who have swallowing problems, otherwise known as dysphagia. Food and drinks are modified to make swallowing safer as well as reduce the risk of choking and aspiration. The meals are provided in consultation with a speech pathologist who prescribes the required level of texture following a detailed swallowing assessment.

Modified food textures offered at Northern Health include puree, minced and moist, soft and bite-sized and easy to chew, which are compliant with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative Framework.

As part of this project, over 50 new menu items will be introduced at Ian Brand Residential Care across the puree and minced and moist diet codes. The menu items will be in the shape of easy to recognise food items including beef ravioli, chicken breast, roast meat slices, vegetables including carrot, broccoli and corn cobs and desserts such as chocolate cake, apple and cinnamon cake and lemon panacotta.

Tara Buratto, Senior Food Service Dietitian, said the moulded textured modified meals are in the shape of real food and designed to improve the consumer mealtime experience, nutrition intake and promote dining with dignity, irrespective of diet and meal requirements.

“This is a unique quality improvement initiative that will enhance the food service provision to residents requiring texture modified meals at Ian Brand Residential Care and provide a model for further growth across Northern Health. The pilot project was highly encouraged and supported by Ian Brand Residential Care management in order to also ensure compliance with the Aged Care Standards,” she said.

This innovative transformation is a novel food service initiative that showcases Northern Health as a leader in progressive and dignified meal provision within a publicly funded aged care service.

Initially, the moulded texture modified meals will be offered at Ian Brand Residential Care with a view to explore the potential for further expansion.

Featured image: Jennifer Paraskeva, Senior Speech Pathologist, Lora Davies, Divisional Director, Sub Acute Services and Access, Tara Buratto, Senior Food Dietitian, Snezana Poposka, ISS Facility Services Manager, Bundoora Centre and Rachael Evans, Associate Director, Dietetics.