With winter finally coming to an end and warmer weather approaching, it’s time to start thinking about the transition into the new seasonal menu for residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The change in seasons creates a wonderful opportunity to provide residents with fresh ideas and updated meals on their menus.

The consequences and health problems associated with obesity are many, varied and often are preventable through a healthy and active lifestyle. As overweight and obesity becomes more prevalent in the general population, it also increases among our aged care residents. So should we be encouraging these residents to lose weight as we do so with the younger population?

As the current population ages, we are seeing increasing cultural diversity in the older population. By 2021 more than 30% of Australia’s older population will have been born outside of Australia. An expected outcome of the quality and accreditation standards is that providers meet the needs and preferences of residents with special needs and this includes those from CALD backgrounds.