A study from the University of South Australia (UniSA) suggests providers can raise nutrition and energy levels in their residents simply by increasing the size of the meals provided.
Researchers sought to examine the effect of environmental factors such as music and fragrance on the aged care dining experience, and how these could drive positive outcomes.
Meal size was used as a manipulation to test the effectiveness of these ‘food-cues’ with 31 residents at an Adelaide aged care home.
Across the board there was a portion sized effect, with residents who were offered larger meals eating more and thereby increasing energy and nutrition levels.
UniSA researcher Hei Tong Lau says the findings could prove valuable for providers.
“In Australia, up to 70 per cent of elderly people living in aged care facilities are suffering from malnutrition, the primary reason for which is inadequate food intake,” Lau says.
“While exploring environmental factors that could improve dining atmosphere, we found that portion size was highly correlated with the amount of food that residents consumed.”
“Increasing serving sizes may seem like a small step, but for residents who need the nutrition, it’s massive move forward.”
You can find the full paper here.
