Reducing Food Waste in Aged Care: A Win-Win Solution

The Scale of the Problem

At Hostservice, we have been working with the Aged Care sector for a number of years, providing solutions to care facilities across the country to help them deliver a better service to residents. Whilst we were aware of the challenges faced by care homes in New Zealand, the scale of the problem was highlighted in Elena’s presentation, which really brought home the need for the solutions that we offer here at Hostservice.

The statistics are staggering:

- New Zealand generates 3.2 billion dollars worth of food waste annually

- In aged care facilities, the average waste is 2 kg per resident per week

- 59% of this waste (1.18 kg/resident/week) comes from food that is plated but not eaten

These numbers highlight a pressing need for change in how we approach meal service in aged care settings.

Understanding the Root Cause

One of the most common complaints from residents is cold food. Not only does this present health risks it also affects resident satisfaction but also contributes significantly to food waste. When meals are not served at the proper temperature, residents are less likely to consume them, leading to increased waste and potential nutritional deficits. Combined with a food waste audit meaningful changes can be made.

The Potential for Improvement

By addressing the temperature issue and ensuring correct portion sizes, we could potentially reduce food waste by 1 kg per resident per week. While this may seem small, the cumulative impact is substantial:

- At a conservative estimate of $10 per kg (including food cost, staff time, and energy), this represents a saving of $10 per resident per week

- For a facility serving 60 residents, this could translate to annual savings of $31,200

Hostservice's Solutions

Our ABS-15 Banquet Trolley is designed to tackle these challenges head-on. This innovative solution can transport up to 28 meals while maintaining optimal temperature, ensuring that residents receive hot, appetising food. By investing in such equipment, aged care facilities can:

1. Significantly reduce food waste

2. Improve resident satisfaction

3. Potentially save thousands of dollars annually

4. Ensure better nutritional outcomes for residents

How does the Hostservice hotbox compare to other meal transport solutions in terms of efficiency and cost savings?

Hostservice's ABS-15 Banquet Trolley offers several advantages over traditional meal transport solutions, particularly in terms of efficiency and cost savings for aged care facilities:

Temperature Maintenance

The ABS-15 Banquet Trolley is designed to maintain optimal food temperature during transport. This is crucial because:

1. It addresses one of the biggest food complaints in aged care - cold food
2. Proper temperature maintenance reduces food waste, as residents are more likely to eat meals served at the right temperature

Capacity and Efficiency

The trolley can transport up to 28 meals at once, which offers significant benefits:

1. It allows for efficient meal delivery, reducing the time and labour needed for multiple trips
2. The large capacity means fewer trips between the kitchen and resident areas, potentially saving on staff time and energy costs

Versatility and Durability

The ABS-15 Banquet Trolley likely offers:

1. Flexibility in meal service, allowing for different serving styles and schedules
2. Durability for long-term use, potentially offering a good return on investment over time

Optimised Meal Service for High-Care Environments

The ABS-15 Banquet Trolley offers a strategic solution for aged care facilities with challenging staffing and resident care requirements. By enabling centralised meal plating and temperature maintenance, the hotbox allows for more efficient meal service with reduced staff involvement:

Staggered Meal Delivery Advantages

• Reduced Staff Movement: Meals can be pre-plated in the kitchen and transported at optimal temperature, minimising staff trips between kitchen and resident areas
• Flexible Serving Schedules: Supports serving meals to residents at different times based on individual care needs
• Temperature Consistency: Ensures meals remain hot and appetising, even when served at staggered intervals
• Staff Efficiency: Allows care staff to focus more on resident assistance and less on meal transportation
• Potential Staff Cost Savings: Reduces the number of staff required for meal service by streamlining the delivery process

By providing a solution that maintains meal quality while supporting flexible service models, the Hostservice hotbox becomes more than just a transport tool - it's a strategic asset for high-care aged care facilities managing complex resident needs with limited staffing resources.

While we don't have direct comparison data with other specific meal transport solutions, the features and potential savings offered by the ABS-15 Banquet Trolley suggest it could be a highly efficient and cost-effective option for aged care facilities looking to improve their meal service and reduce food waste.

Beyond Equipment: A Holistic Approach

At Hostservice, we understand that addressing food waste requires more than just equipment. Our comprehensive approach includes:

1. Commercial Kitchen Design: We offer tailored design solutions that optimise workflow and efficiency in aged care kitchens.

2. Temporary Kitchen Solutions: For facilities undergoing renovations or facing unexpected challenges, we provide temporary commercial kitchen setups to ensure uninterrupted service.

3. Consultation Services: Our team of experts can assess your current processes, set up a food waste audit and recommend improvements to reduce waste and enhance meal service quality.

The Bigger Picture

Reducing food waste in aged care facilities is not just about cost savings. It's about:

- Enhancing the quality of life for residents

- Contributing to environmental sustainability

- Improving operational efficiency

- Ensuring better nutritional outcomes for our elderly population

By partnering with Hostservice and implementing our solutions, aged care facilities across New Zealand can take a significant step towards addressing these critical issues. Together, we can create a more sustainable, efficient, and resident-focused approach to meal service in aged care.

To learn more about how Hostservice can help your facility reduce food waste and improve meal service, visit our dedicated Aged Care solutions page.

Let's work together to make a positive change in New Zealand's aged care sector – one meal at a time.