Food and nutrition were identified as one of four concerns requiring immediate attention in the Final Report handed down by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in March.
Bolton Clarke, a provider of independent living services through at-home care, retirement living and residential aged care, has now come up with an on-demand cultural food initiative to bring the smells and flavours of home to residents from 23 different cultural backgrounds at Bolton Clarke’s Cabrini residential aged care community at Westmead.
The food initiative has been such a success that it has won international recognition, named as a finalist in this year’s 9th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards for Innovation of the Year – Food and Nutrition.
Bolton Clarke General Manager Hospitality Caroline Lucas said the menu was developed with residents and families to meet the needs of residents from cultural backgrounds including Italian, Lebanese, Chinese, Filipino, Egyptian, Iranian, Fijian, Persian, German, Sri Lankan, Indian, Greek, Maltese, French, Macedonian, Malaysian, Sudanese, Hungarian, Irish, English, Spanish and Estonian (what a list!)
“We had a series of one-on-one meetings with residents and families, who submitted favourite recipes,” she said.
“As well as the daily cooked fresh meals there are now an additional 10 cultural meal choices cooked and snap frozen on site for residents to choose.
“To complement the more diverse regular menu we have recommissioned our courtyard pizza oven and arranged a barista coffee cart.”
A blast chill process has also been Implemented to support safe storage for families who want to bring home cooked meals.
Bolton Clarke Cabrini Residential Manager Priya Joshi said the new menu was presented to residents for feedback with overwhelmingly positive results.
“There’s nothing like the smells and flavours of a favourite family meal to stimulate positive memories and promote wellbeing,” she said.
“Now more than ever it’s been great to see the smiles the new meal range brings to residents’ faces.”
Great job.
