Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences

The Cost of Foodservice in Residential Aged Care

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This study is about understanding the cost to provide foodservices to residents in aged care, The UQ Victus Foodservice Group is currently looking to engage with a number of homes around Australia.

Currently, within Australia, there is an increasing focus on costs and the level of care provided to residents in residential aged care. Attention has also turned toward food expenditure and what this means for the service provided to residents. Food expenditure in residential aged care homes has been publicised widely and caused great criticism of the sector in recent times. However, what food cost alone fails to capture, is the complexity that is the cost to provide residents with a quality foodservice.

The UQ Victus Foodservice Group brings together national and international experts in foodservice spearheading research focussed on vulnerable populations. As a part of developing a true understanding of the cost to provide foodservices to residents in aged care, the group is currently looking to engage with a number of homes around Australia.

To be able to participate, homes will need to provide:

  • Menu
  • Workflows for staff involved in foodservices (positions only)
  • Equipment lists for kitchens
  • Twelve months of recorded expenditures for food, utilities, consumables, maintenance work for kitchen, equipment expenses and other kitchen related expenses.
  • Staff roster (no names, positions only)
  • Staff wages (no names, positions only)

In addition to these documents, researchers may also conduct a phone call with the manager of foodservices if further clarification of supplied information is required, this will take approximately 30 minutes.

Participant benefits

For homes that collaborate with the research group, a detailed report of their foodservices will be provided.

Eligibility

Residential aged care homes of any size, location and ownership type can participate.

Register your interest

If you are interested in participating in the study or require any further information, contact Mikaela Wheeler.

This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No. 2019002839]