It involves providing caterers with the knowledge and skills they need to serve nutritionally balanced, appealing and high quality food solutions in the care home environment, where more people are living to an older age and the number of places in residential care homes is forecast to rise from around 450,000 to 1.3 million by 2031.
The programme from Brakes includes a new Care Home Food Guide, online support and a free online training course for caterers, developed in partnership with Nestlé Professional.
Brakes’ team of nutritionists has developed the guide using insight from industry experts and major care home providers, such as Four Seasons Healthcare, and guidance from the BDA ‘The Nutrition and Hydration Digest: Improving outcomes through food and beverage services’.
The guide, also available online via www.brake.co.uk, includes menu cycle, recipes, and practical advice on serving food that residents will enjoy. Among the areas covered are the five key topics directly affecting the dietary requirements of people in long-term healthcare: balanced diet, avoiding malnutrition, dysphagia, diabetes and dementia. The free online training programme launches in January.
Brakes head of health and nutrition, Eileen Steinbock, said: “Delivering appetising food that also meets a wide and complex variety of nutritional requirements is no easy task, but the new programme of support condenses a wealth of expert advice from within the industry, making it as easy as possible for caterers to meet resident needs.
“One of the key requirements is relevant training, so the free training programme should provide much needed support for caterers currently working within the sector and those just entering. The course is easy to follow and ensures that caterers working within the sector understand how nutritious food can positively affect resident wellbeing.”
To further support Brakes’ work with the care home sector it has appointed Angelee Jabble to the role of healthcare sector manager. She was formerly primary care manager at BMI Healthcare.