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Healthy eating
The Dietary Guidelines for Older Australians are designed to take account of the changes in nutritional needs that occur with ageing. The guidelines are aimed at healthy, independent Australians aged 65 and over.
The guidelines recommend 12 steps for maximum vitality, energy and health in older people:
- Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods.
- Keep active to maintain muscle strength and a healthy body weight.
- Eat at least three meals every day.
- Prepare and store your food correctly.
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit.
- Eat plenty of cereals, bread and pasta.
- Include foods that are high in calcium.
- Eat a diet which is low in saturated fat.
- Choose food low in salt.
- Use sugar in moderation.
- Drink adequate amounts of water and other fluids.
- Limit your alcohol intake.
Healthy eating in aged care homes
People who live in aged care homes need the right food.
- They need meals that are varied, healthy and well-balanced and that take their personal preferences and needs into account.
- Meals should be enjoyable!
- Meals should be of good quality and quantity. People should be given help to eat if they need it so their nutritional needs are met. This includes, where necessary, preparing the meals in a way that makes it easier for them to eat, providing special devices to enhance their ability to feed themselves or providing staff assistance with feeding.
- Where ever possible meal times should be seen as an opportunity to get together and socialise.
- These requirements are reinforced through accreditation of aged care homes and on-going monitoring to ensure standards continue to be met. In assessing homes for accreditation, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency actively examines practices and documentation to ensure residents’ needs and preferences have been thoroughly assessed, documented, regularly reviewed and acted upon.
Alcohol and drugs
Moderation is the key in the safe use of alcohol. An understanding of other drugs can be useful if you are involved in grand-parenting and need to be aware of drug use and abuse.
Read More: About alcohol and drugs
Useful resources
- Choose Health: be Active, a physical activity guide for older Australians
- Health Insite
- Healthy Eating Club is another guide to healthy eating released by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing that is easy to follow and an excellent general indicator for a balanced diet.
The ‘Best Practice Food and Nutrition Manual for aged care facilities’ is available through the Aged Care Association by phoning 02 9212 6922.
Common questions on this topic:
- As I get older I don't want to eat as much as I used to - what foods should I eat to be sure I stay healthy?
- Are some foods better for me than others?
See all common questions