Home Care & The Aged Care Standards: What You Need to Know About Meal Obligations
Jul 04, 2025
With the introduction of the new Aged Care Act 2024, home care providers face new responsibilities - particularly around the delivery of nutritious meals. These changes reflect a broader push for quality, dignity, and person-centred care across both residential and in-home settings.
New Obligations for Home Delivered Meals
A new meal obligation has been introduced under the updated legislation, applying to any Commonwealth-funded meals delivered to older people’s homes or provided during community respite. The aim? To ensure meals are not only nutritious and appropriate for older adults, but also appetising and considerate of their needs and preferences.
Importantly, meals provided must now be assessed by an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) at least once annually. This includes assessment of all standard and specialised menus (e.g. diabetic, texture-modified, gluten-free). While many clients continue to supplement meal services with their own food, providers are responsible for ensuring that the meals they deliver meet the general nutritional requirements of people aged 65 and over.
Who is Responsible?
While the actual meal preparation may be outsourced to a manufacturer or third-party supplier, it is the registered home care provider who remains accountable. Under the new Act, even when services are subcontracted, providers must ensure all regulatory requirements are met. This means the inclusion of dietetic assessments must be formalised, either directly or through clear provisions in supply contracts.
Meal manufacturers may not be familiar with these requirements. That’s where providers like Nutrition Professionals Australia (NPA) can step in. NPA has experience with home-delivered meal suppliers to evaluate the suitability and nutritional quality of the products and menus, helping to meet compliance obligations with confidence.
The Role of Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs)
APDs are central to this new framework. Their role is not just about reviewing meal composition, but ensuring the offerings are aligned with the nutritional needs and preferences of older people. This includes ensuring meals are rich in protein and calcium, tailored to specialised dietary needs, and are visually appealing. Even in remote areas where access to APDs may be limited, remote assessments can be conducted.
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
The new Standards place strong emphasis on continuous improvement. Providers are required to implement a quality assurance framework that not only considers APD assessments but also actively gathers feedback from older clients. This includes feedback on taste, portion size, meal variety, and satisfaction which must inform menu development and enhancement.
Feedback mechanisms can include surveys, telephone interviews, or informal discussions during meal delivery. Ultimately, this shift aims to support dignity, choice, and a better dining experience for all older Australians receiving care.
NPA Can Support Your Compliance
Navigating these new requirements may feel overwhelming, but that is where Nutrition Professionals Australia has the experience supporting both meal manufacturers and home care providers to meet aged care nutrition standards.
Whether you need a menu review, ongoing support, or advice on implementing a quality assurance framework, NPA is here to help. Get in touch with us today to ensure your service is compliant and your clients are receiving the high-quality meals they deserve.
