RDNS to serve up healthy food with Beer

Aged-care residents are set to be among the “tens of thousands” of beneficiaries of a new partnership between the Royal District Nursing Service and the Maggie Beer Foundation aimed at delivering healthy food messages.

In the deal, announced this week, the RDNS will deliver nourishment and nutritional education sessions – supported by the Beer foundation – to communities across Australia. The sessions will take place at retirement villages, activity centres and community centres, while leveraging the RDNS network of home nursing services and support programs.

A trial phase of the program will continue until the end of the year, with a national launch due to commence from February 2016. RDNS executive general manager Dan Woods said he was thrilled to launch the partnership, which he described as a “perfect fit” between the two organisations.

“The Maggie Beer Foundation philosophy is aligned with ours in so many ways," Woods said. "We are both championing healthy lifestyles for our Australians, wherever they may be and irrespective of age group.

“RDNS supports more than 100,000 Australians around the country, [so] it is a fantastic notion that we can encourage our clients and the people we support, as well as community groups with whom we come in touch, to keep good nutrition top of mind. [This is a] very exciting initiative that has the potential to benefit tens of thousands of people."

Beer, who in 2010 was named Senior Australian of the Year, said there was much work to be done in ensuring all ageing Australians were able to enjoy healthy, nutritious and delicious diets.

“It should be everyone’s right to have good food and I believe that no one group of people need it more," Beer said. "My hope is that every meal can give comfort and pleasure – always something to look forward to.”

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