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VU joins forces with HammondCare

Victoria University has joined forces with HammondCare, one of Australia’s most innovative aged care providers, to help improve the lives of people in aged care and those with dementia.

As a first joint project, the two organisations are delivering a training workshop September 22-23 for nursing care managers and chefs at VenU (VU’s training restaurant) exploring the importance of food in the lives of older people and those living with dementia.

Hammondcare’s Dementia Centre’s Head of Operations, Marie Alford, says the Dining by Design workshop dispels the myth that food for people with dementia should focus on nutrition alone at the expense of providing a full sensory experience.  

The two-day workshop will be delivered across Australia and follows on from the success of a HammondCare cookbook, Don’t Give me Eggs that Bounce. The book shows how simple recipes, fresh ingredients, and great presentation can make eating a joy for people living with dementia.

“Through training, education and partnerships with organisations such as Victoria University, we want to challenge and change the culture around food for some of our most vulnerable residents in care facilities,” she said.

Director of VU’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Professor Maximilian de Courten says Victoria University is keen to build on its new partnership and conduct  research towards improved care for people living with dementia, their carers, and facility providers.

“This partnership links in well with the VU approach to interdisciplinary research by including our existing strength in areas such as mental health, nursing, food and nutrition, pharmacology, exercise and healthy ageing, “ Professor de Courten said.  

The partnership may also include placement opportunities for VU health and biomedical students, as well as for those in VU’s long established Master of Health Science (Aged Care) program.

The masters course not only meets a rapidly-growing demand for aged care professionals in Australia, it is also among the few courses in the country to focus on the needs of Australia’s culturally-diverse aging residents.

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