Why Every Facility Needs an Aged Care Dietitian Under the Current Quality Standards

The Aged Care Quality Standards are now fully in effect, and nutrition is a major area of audit focus.

For aged care facility managers, this means dietitian involvement is no longer optional.

An aged care dietitian plays a critical role in helping facilities manage malnutrition risk, use supplements appropriately, and demonstrate compliance during audits.

This article explains why dietitian support is essential under the current standards and how it protects both residents and facilities.

Nutrition Is a Core Compliance Requirement in Aged Care

Under the strengthened standards, food and nutrition are directly linked to:

• Resident safety

• Clinical governance

• Quality indicators

• Audit outcomes

Auditors are no longer satisfied with generic policies. Instead, they expect clear evidence that nutrition risks are identified, managed, reviewed, and documented.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has repeatedly identified nutrition and hydration as high-risk areas during audits.

Which Aged Care Quality Standards Relate to Nutrition?

Nutrition responsibilities sit across multiple standards, including:

Standard 3 – Care and Services

Facilities must demonstrate that residents:

• Receive adequate nutrition and hydration

• Have individualised care plans

• Are protected from preventable harm such as malnutrition

Standard 5 – Clinical Governance

Facilities must show:

• Identification of high-risk conditions

• Evidence-based care

• Monitoring and continuous improvement

Malnutrition is recognised as a clinical risk, not just a food service issue.

Malnutrition Screening: An Audit Priority

Malnutrition remains common in residential aged care and is frequently identified during audits.

Auditors expect facilities to demonstrate:

• Use of a validated malnutrition screening tool

• Screening on admission and at regular intervals

• Clear escalation when risk is identified

• Documented nutrition interventions and review

How an Aged Care Dietitian Helps

An aged care dietitian:

• Oversees screening processes

• Trains staff in consistent screening

• Interprets results correctly

• Ensures follow-up actions are documented

Without dietitian oversight, screening may occur — but still fail to meet audit expectations.

Supplements in Aged Care: A Common Compliance Risk

Oral nutrition supplements are widely used in aged care. However, they are also frequently questioned during audits.

Common compliance issues include:

• Supplements started without assessment

• Long-term use without review

• Inappropriate product selection

• Limited documentation of effectiveness

Dietitian Oversight of Supplements

An aged care dietitian ensures supplements are:

• Clinically indicated

• Appropriately selected

• Monitored for effectiveness

• Reviewed and discontinued when no longer required

This aligns supplement use with best practice rather than routine prescribing.

Individualised Nutrition Care Plans Matter

Auditors increasingly look for person-centred nutrition care, not generic templates.

Care plans should reflect:

• Medical conditions and medications

• Weight trends and intake changes

• Chewing or swallowing difficulties

• Cultural and personal preferences

An aged care dietitian develops and reviews individualised nutrition care plans that meet both resident needs and compliance requirements.

Documentation: Where Many Facilities Are Caught Out

In many audits, appropriate care is being delivered — but not clearly documented.

Dietitian support helps facilities:

• Strengthen nutrition assessments

• Align care plans and progress notes

• Provide clear audit evidence

• Demonstrate continuous improvement

Good nutrition care must be visible to auditors, not just occurring in practice.

Staff Education and Governance Support

The current standards place responsibility on facilities to ensure staff understand nutrition risk.

An aged care dietitian supports governance by:

• Training staff to recognise malnutrition early

• Clarifying escalation pathways

• Supporting multidisciplinary communication

This reduces risk and improves confidence across care teams.

Why Facilities Are Engaging Aged Care Dietitians

Facilities with regular dietitian involvement are better positioned to:

• Meet the Aged Care Quality Standards

• Reduce audit findings

• Manage malnutrition proactively

• Use supplements appropriately

• Protect resident wellbeing

Dietitian involvement reduces managerial and clinical risk.

Best-practice nutrition care in aged care is guided by professional standards and evidence-based frameworks. Dietitians Australia recommends regular dietitian involvement in menu review, malnutrition management, and ongoing quality improvement to support safe and compliant care.

Final Takeaway for Facility Managers

Under the current Aged Care Quality Standards:

• Nutrition is an audit priority

• Malnutrition screening must be robust and documented

• Supplement use must be justified and reviewed

• Dietitian involvement strengthens compliance

An aged care dietitian supports both quality care and regulatory confidence.

If you are reviewing your nutrition practices or preparing for an audit, professional support can make the process easier.

Our aged care dietitians help facilities:

• Review malnutrition screening processes

• Assess supplement use

• Strengthen documentation

• Maintain compliance with current standards

Contact us to discuss aged care dietitian support for your facility.

Originally published October 2025. Last updated January 2026 to reflect the current Aged Care Quality Standards.