From 36 to 58 Minutes: Progress in Aged Care Dietetic Support, With More Work Ahead
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Previously, we published an article that sparked an important conversation across the aged care sector. At the time, newly released data showed that Dietitians were spending just 36 minutes per resident per year in Australian aged care homes.
That figure was confronting.
Not per month.
Not per quarter.
But per year.
For a population group with high rates of malnutrition, chronic disease, functional decline, and complex care needs, this level of dietetic input was clearly insufficient.
Fast forward to the most recent financial year, and updated data from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing, provides a cautiously optimistic update. According to the Financial Performance of the Australian Aged Care Sector collection, residents are now receiving an average of 0.16 minutes of Dietitian time per day. When annualised, this equates to 58.4 minutes per resident per year.
This represents a 62.22% increase in dietetic time compared to previous reporting. This improvement deserves recognition. However, it also warrants careful interpretation. The question now is not just whether Dietitian time has increased, but what this increase means, why it matters, and how the sector can continue to build on this momentum.
Why Dietitian Time in Aged Care Matters
Nutrition is a cornerstone of health at every stage of life, but it becomes particularly critical in older age.
Aged care residents experience:
Higher rates of malnutrition and unintentional weight loss
Increased risk of pressure injuries and delayed wound healing
Reduced appetite and altered taste perception
Chronic disease burden, including diabetes and kidney disease
Swallowing difficulties and texture modification requirements
For most residents, 100% of daily food and fluid intake is provided by the aged care home. This places a significant responsibility on services to ensure nutritional adequacy, safety, and enjoyment at every meal.
Dietitians play a central role in addressing these risks. Evidence consistently shows that appropriate dietetic intervention can:
Reduce the prevalence and severity of malnutrition
Support wound healing and immune function
Improve blood sugar control
Reduce hospital admissions
Enhance quality of life and mealtime satisfaction
Time matters because effective nutrition care requires assessment, monitoring, follow-up and collaboration with staff. These processes cannot be meaningfully achieved in brief, infrequent interactions.
Interpreting the New Data: What Has Changed?
The introduction of mandatory allied health cost reporting has improved transparency across the sector. For the first time, dietetic services are being consistently captured and reported at a national level.
The most recent data indicates:
An average of 0.16 minutes of Dietitian time per resident per day
Equivalent to 58.4 minutes per resident per year
An increase of 22.4 minutes per year compared to earlier reporting
This upward trend suggests:
Growing recognition of the importance of nutrition care
Increased engagement of Dietitians by aged care providers
Greater alignment with regulatory expectations and best practice
Importantly, this increase has occurred alongside broader reforms in aged care funding and accountability, including the introduction of additional funding specifically allocated to food and nutrition.
A limitation to this 22.4 minutes increase per year is that reporting is mandatory now, but it was not before. Does it represents a true increase in dietetics, or is it actually just more accurate reporting?
Are these 58 minutes actually spent on each resident in every aged care home, or is it time towards menus, educations, nutrition, and not allocated to each resident. Noting in aged care we will often come across a resident who has been in an aged care home for years and has never had a Dietitian review, or not had one in years.
Is 58 Minutes Per Year Sufficient?
While the increase is encouraging, it is important to place this figure in context.
58 minutes per year equates to:
Less than five minutes per month
Approximately one comprehensive assessment annually, with limited opportunity for review
Minimal capacity for follow-up after changes in health status
Aged care residents are not clinically static. Nutritional status can change rapidly in response to illness, medication changes, functional decline, or psychosocial factors. From a clinical perspective, nutrition care should be ongoing and responsive, not periodical. 58 minutes per year should be viewed as a starting point rather than an endpoint.
Why the Increase Still Matters
Despite its limitations, the increase in Dietitian time is meaningful for several reasons:
1. Earlier Identification of Risk
Greater Dietitian involvement increases the likelihood that malnutrition risk, weight loss, and inadequate intake are identified earlier, before complications arise.
2. Improved Resident Outcomes
Even modest increases in nutrition support can contribute to improved strength, energy levels, wound healing, and overall wellbeing.
3. Enhanced Support for Staff
Dietitians provide practical guidance to nursing, care and hospitality teams. Clear nutrition plans reduce uncertainty and support consistent care delivery.
4. Alignment With Best Practice and Accreditation
Regular dietetic input supports compliance with aged care quality standards, food and nutrition requirements, and continuous improvement processes.
In short, increased Dietitian time strengthens systems of care.
Why Dietitian Visits Are Often Cancelled or Deferred
Despite the recognised value of dietetic services, cancellations and rescheduling remain common.
Dietitians frequently hear:
“We’ll wait until we have more referrals.”
“We’ll rebook when it’s more urgent.”
“We’ll call if we need you.”
While these reasons are understandable in a busy care environment, repeated cancellations undermine continuity of care. Nutritional concerns rarely resolve without intervention, and delayed reviews can result in missed opportunities for early support.
The Importance of Knowing When to Refer
One of the most effective ways to maximise dietetic input is through timely referral. Nursing Staff and Care Coordinators play a critical role in identifying residents who would benefit from dietetic assessment. Clear referral pathways should be embedded within routine care processes.
Common referral triggers include:
Unplanned weight loss or failure to gain weight
Reduced appetite or poor oral intake
Pressure injuries or chronic wounds
Frequent infections or illness
Changes in swallowing ability or texture requirements
New diagnoses such as diabetes or kidney disease
Early referral allows for preventative strategies rather than reactive management.
Why Regular, Scheduled Visits Are More Effective
Dietitians are often engaged on an ad hoc basis, typically once a problem has become evident.
In contrast, regular scheduled visits enable:
Consistent monitoring of nutritional status
Early detection of concerning trends
Stronger relationships between Dietitians and care teams
Integration of nutrition into routine clinical decision making
Dietitians Support More Than Individual Residents
Dietetic services extend well beyond one-on-one consultations.
Dietitians also support aged care homes through:
Review and rationalisation of oral nutrition supplements
Analysis of weight trends across the aged care homes
Menu reviews and development to meet resident needs
Nutrition audits and quality improvement activities
Staff education and training
Support with accreditation and compliance requirements
Advice on food fortification and meal enhancement
Improving the mealtime environment and dining experience
These activities benefit all residents, including those not directly reviewed.
Practical Recommendations for Aged Care Homes
To maximise the value of dietetic services, aged care homes should consider:
Embedding regular Dietitian visits rather than relying on ad hoc referrals
Educating staff on referral triggers and the scope of dietetic practice
Using Dietitians as an ongoing resource for clinical and operational support
Reducing cancellations by redirecting time to audits, supplement reviews, education, or menu support when residents are unavailable.
These strategies support better outcomes without increasing burden on staff.
What This Means for the Sector
The increase from 36 to 58 minutes per resident per year might reflect meaningful progress in aged care nutrition support.
It demonstrates:
Greater recognition of the role of Dietitians
Improved transparency in reporting
Alignment with broader aged care reform objectives
However, it also highlights the ongoing gap between current practice and optimal nutrition care. Continued improvement will require:
Ongoing investment in dietetic services
Proactive integration of nutrition into care models
Recognition that nutrition is foundational, not optional
Moving Forward
Australian aged care is changing. Expectations are higher. Residents’ needs are more complex. And nutrition can no longer be an afterthought.
If your aged care home is looking to strengthen nutrition care, support staff, and improve resident outcomes, working with an experienced aged care Dietitian is a practical and evidence-based step forward.
To discuss how an OSCAR Care Group Accredited Practising Dietitian can support your residents, staff and service, we encourage you to reach out.
Because 58 minutes may be progress, but residents deserve more!
