A Different Approach to Food in Aged Care

One of life’s great pleasures is food and that remains true as we get older and enter aged care. Villa Maria Catholic Homes’ Hospitality Residential and Retirement Services Manager, Wayne Wallis, says food plays an important role in a person’s health and happiness in aged care.

His role is to oversee food services at VMCH’s 12 aged care residences across Melbourne, Bacchus Marsh and Torquay. He is also leading the adoption of the Montessori practise to food services in VMHC’s aged care dining rooms.

Montessori is traditionally associated with early childhood education. In aged care, it aims to empower individuals to be as independent as possible; to have a meaningful place in their aged care community and have more choices.

VMCH has introduced the Montessori practice to its aged care dining rooms by making some fundamental changes to the way food is traditionally looked at in residential aged care. Wayne says the practice is about giving residents more choice and involving them more when it comes to mealtime.

“Montessori is really about building on residents’ strengths. Look at what they are capable of doing and ensuring that they are able to do it for as long as possible,” Wayne said.

The Montessori model moves away from the traditional aged care dining room and to a buffet-style.  The advantages of the buffet include residents having more choice in the foods they want to eat and the size of their meal.

VMCH’s 12 aged care residences are all at different stages of introducing the Montessori buffet-style dining room.

Another important component of the Montessori model is empowering individuals to remain independent. People who have been preparing meals for themselves and their families for decades often go into aged care and their skills and enjoyment of this task can be overlooked and lost.

The Montessori model encourages residents to get involved in mealtime. Chopping up vegetables, helping fold napkins, set tables and help others are all things that residents enjoy helping out with.

“Essentially it is about residents feeling like they are part of a community and that they can contribute to that community. In the process, they are maintaining skills, staying socially active and feeling engaged,” Wayne said.

Learn more about VMCH’s aged care residences and the Montessori practice in aged care by calling 1300 845 526.

Find out more about Villa Maria Catholic Homes.