RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME GUIDE
This page contains an overview of IRT’s hospitality services, including dining, food safety, laundry, and cleaning, to help you understand what to expect in your residential care home.
Whether you need regular assistance or once-off support with daily tasks like showering, shaving, or toileting, our kind and compassionate team will help you to look and feel your best. Whether the need is large or small, we will customise a service plan to ensure your dignity and personal care needs are met in the comfort of your own home.
All meals are provided, including morning and afternoon tea, with snacks available throughout the day. At some residential care homes, fees may apply for certain services, such as meal delivery to your room , high tea, happy hour, or other refreshments.
We encourage you to enjoy your meals in the dining room. We can also support special occasions you may wish to celebrate with your family or close friends, including sharing a meal together, however this may incur a cost. Please speak with the hospitality team if you would like further information.
Daily menus are displayed in the dining room and are regularly reviewed in consultation with qualified dietitians, ensuring nutritious food with an emphasis on seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Our meals can be tailored to suit dietary, cultural or religious needs. Please let us know your preferences and we’ll make every effort to accommodate them.
All menus comply with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), ensuring safe food textures and thickened fluids for residents who need them.
The meals in most of our residential care homes are provided by IRT Catering, a centralised operation that supplies meals using the Regethermic System (cook-chill process). At some residential care homes, meals are provided by other catering organisations using a similar Regethermic System, or are cooked onsite by contract catering partners.
IRT Catering holds the highest rating from the relevant food authorities, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) accreditation, which is recognised by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Further information regarding diet and menus and IRT food services can be obtained from your hospitality team.
Snack fridges and self-serve coffee machines are available in common areas (dining areas, lounges or reception). They provide access to nutritious snacks and drinks, including IDDSI-compliant options, so you can enjoy food and beverages when you wish.
All snack fridge contents are reviewed with speech pathologists to ensure they are compliant with IDDSI requirements. Feedback is regularly sought from residents on the choice of snack fridge contents.
We respect resident choice while also managing safety. If you wish to eat or drink outside a speech pathologist’s recommendations, we will help you understand the risks and may complete a Risk Assessment form with you and your supporters.
However, employees and volunteers cannot serve food or fluids that fall outside clinical recommendations, as this would compromise their duty of care. For more information, please speak with your Residential Manager.
Your feedback shapes our menus and services. We encourage you to participate through:
If you would like to participate in these forums, please speak with the hospitality team.
In addition, the hospitality team conducts regular audits of the food service. These audits include seeking your feedback on the food.
Your feedback helps us to continue to improve our meals, and we encourage you to share your compliments, suggestions or complaints with us via our Feedback Form or by speaking directly with a member of the team.
You can also contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline, which gives people direct access to a dedicated team to discuss any issues about food, nutrition and dining in aged care.
You can contact the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline via:
Families are welcome to bring in food. We will work with you to balance safety with an enjoyable experience. Please note that food brought from outside remains your responsibility.
Some residential care homes provide in-room fridges, or you may supply your own. If you provide your own fridge, you or your family and friends must clean, manage, and remove it when leaving IRT.
To support safe practices, you’ll receive a soon after you move in. This booklet is available at reception. You can also access it here.
Some homes may offer beer and wine with meals (fees may apply). You may also bring in small, socially acceptable quantities of alcohol for personal use. For health and safety purposes, please inform the Residential Manager or a registered nurse, and obtain GP approval if required. Excessive alcohol use will not be tolerated.
