Interdisciplinary Nutrition Management

The course “DAMIA — Der alte Mensch is(s)t anders” (“Older people are different/eat differently”) provides further training for staff working in care homes. The aim is to improve the nutrition of care home residents taking into account the special needs of elderly people.

Facts and figures

Organisation: two-part workshop series
Target group: staff working in care homes (all departments)
Number of participants: seven to twelve participants
Duration: 16 hours, including breaks
Place: Health Perception Lab at FH JOANNEUM Graz
Lecturers: experts from the fields of dietetics, nutrition, occupational therapy and speech therapy
Costs: 320 euros for the training per participant
Certificate: certificate of participation; 16 training credits according to the Healthcare and Nursing Act (GuKG)
Registration deadline: up to 14 days before the beginning of the training block
Registration: via Angelika Reinprecht
E: angelika.reinprecht@fh-joanneum.at
T: +43 316 5453 – 6740

Training content covered in the two workshop days

• Healthy eating and specific aspects related to nutrition and the elderly
• Calculation of nutritional requirements
• Obstipation
• Nutritional deficiencies and sarcopenia
• Sensory exercises for use in awareness training
• Cognitive impairment – dementia
• Diabetes mellitus Type 1 and 2
• Swallowing disorders – dysphagia
• Creating conditions for problem-free eating and feeding
• Thickening of foods and liquids
• Training exercise focused on practical implementation of acquired knowledge in the care home
• Nutrition in end-of-life care

Interdisciplinary collaboration

The workshop participants can profit from the expertise and specialist knowledge of lecturers from the fields of dietetics and nutrition, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

These experts will share their knowledge to ensure optimal nutritional care for elderly people:

• …Dieticians contribute their experience on the specific nutritional requirements of the elderly
• …Occupational therapists share with participants useful information and insights regarding the eating environment, storage etc.
• …Speech therapists highlight important aspects that need to be taken into account with regard to older people with swallowing disorders.

The knowledge acquired and methods learned for improving the nutritional status of residents are intended for immediate implementation in the private and professional environment. The training course has a particular focus on practical training and supports interdisciplinary cooperation and highlights problems related to nutrition in order to pave the way for developing innovative solutions by working with professionals from other fields. The training course can also be used to ensure levels of quality and professionalism that set the care home apart from other institutions.