Some of Australia’s most vulnerable people are being forced to eat disgusting meals in aged care, an investigation has revealed.
Staff members and family of those in aged care residences described the shocking condition of food served to people at nursing homes.
They include ‘truly disgusting’ meals including a dish known as ‘minced moist’ with a ‘horrible smell’, while workers spoke of watery soup, undercooked vegetables and hard-to-chew meat.
Some of Australia’s most vulnerable people are being forced to eat disgusting meals in aged care, an investigation has revealed
Workers spoke of watery soup, undercooked vegetables and hard-to-chew meat
They include ‘truly disgusting’ meals including a dish known as ‘minced moist’ with a ‘horrible smell’
Dietitians estimated aged care facilities were spending just $6.08 per resident on food – $2 less than is spent on prison inmates.
Federal politicians can claim for up to $181 per meal from taxpayers as part of their expenses.
The horrid meals were revealed as part of the ABC’s Four Corners investigation into the aged care system in Australia.
Melbourne care worker Elizabeth said residents were often forced to suffer through terrible meals.
‘Sadly, because of cutbacks it’s hard to retain good staff and the resident meals suffer, because no one really cares,’ she said.
‘Texture-modified meals’ for people who have trouble swallowing resembled green blobs.
The daughter of a woman in aged care said her mother was disgusted with the quality of food she was served.
Staff members and family of those in aged care residences described the shocking condition of food served to people at nursing homes
Dietitians estimated aged care facilities were spending just $6.08 per resident on food – $2 less than is spent on prison inmates
The horrid meals were revealed as part of the ABC’s Four Corners investigation into the aged care system in Australia
‘My mother has dementia but still knows she is fed up with this meal and doesn’t like it,’ she said.
Dietitian Cherie Hugo said 800 aged care facilities were spending an average of $6.08 a day on food per resident.
The average Australian eats $17 worth of food each day.
Health Services Union national secretary Gerard Hayes said aged care meals were a ‘disgrace’.
A royal commission into the aged care sector has been announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said he was concerned with an ‘alarming and disturbing’ increase in the abuse of elderly people.
Dietitian Cherie Hugo said 800 aged care facilities were spending an average of $6.08 a day on food per resident
Health Services Union national secretary Gerard Hayes said aged care meals were a ‘disgrace’