Mealtime Management Plan Training
Are you a support worker or carer for someone with a Mealtime Management Plan? If so, there is a lot of important information you need to not only be aware of but be able to practically implement. This practical knowledge matters because choking is the second most common cause of death in aged care and disability facilities.
People with swallowing difficulties often rely on the support and care of trusted people to keep them safe when eating, drinking, even when brushing their teeth – yes, there are dysphagia-friendly dental products!
Your understanding of and ability to implement Mealtime Management Plan recommendations is important because, as the person responsible for putting it into practice, you are actively working to ensure the safety of someone at risk of a choking incident and other negative impacts of dysphagia like aspiration pneumonia. It’s a big responsibility, which is why we’re so passionate about providing quality Mealtime Management Plan training.
What is Mealtime Management Plan Training?
As a team of passionate Speech Pathologists, we spend a lot of our time assessing our clients’ swallowing difficulties and developing and updating their Mealtime Management Plans. We take this seriously because Mealtime Management Plans aren’t just a ‘nice thing to have’ – they are essential guides filled with practical information to ensure that dysphagia risks (like choking) are minimized, and mealtimes are managed in a way that maintains a person’s dignity and quality of life while also balancing this with safety.
We also understand that because every Mealtime Management Plan is different; if you care for multiple people with swallowing difficulties or someone with a progressive condition, there is a lot more information you need to know and practically implement to maintain safe and enjoyable mealtimes.
Our Mealtime Management Plan training has been designed to prepare support workers and carers for real-world mealtime challenges. You will leave confident in modifying foods and drinks to suit individual needs, recognising the signs of swallowing difficulty and identifying choking risks, and implementing mealtime management plan recommendations. The best part? This training is extremely practical – you will be supported through a variety of activities to put learning into practice.
What our Mealtime Management Plan training covers:
- Understanding swallowing and dysphagia
- Recognising signs of swallowing difficulty and identifying potential risks
- Safe swallowing techniques – what they are, and how to support people who need them
- Mealtime management plans and how to put them into practice
- Hands-on IDDSI modification and testing methods
- Best practices for positioning, environment, and oral care
- NDIS responsibilities and incident response processes
- Tools to reduce risk and improve quality of life
The Benefits of Mealtime Management Plan Training:
If you’re wondering whether Mealtime Management Plan training is right for you, or for your team of support workers or carers, here are some of the benefits we’ve noticed in those who’ve completed our training.
#1: Increased Confidence When Offering Mealtime Support
It can be intimidating caring for someone when you know the risk of choking or things ‘going down the wrong way’ during mealtimes. It is a big responsibility, but when you’re equipped with the theoretical and practical knowledge to offer support in a way that aligns with Mealtime Management Plan recommendations, you’ll feel much more confident. This is particularly important for those who are new to supporting someone with swallowing difficulties, but everyone involved in this dysphagia care will benefit.
#2: Improved Ability to Manage Mealtime Risks
During our training, you’ll learn a lot about swallowing difficulties and along the way, the potential risks that can make mealtimes unsafe for different kinds of people. You’ll walk away with an improved ability to forsee and manage mealtime risks and provide guidance and support to other carers as they join you in implementing Mealtime Management Plan recommendations for a client or loved one.
#3: Greater Understanding of Implementing IDDSI Recommendations
Learning how to modify foods and drinks, and test them for accuracy, is a very important skill. Trying to teach yourself by following online instructions can be a great place to start, but nothing compares to having a qualified Speech Pathologist with experience supporting dysphagic clients showing you how to make modifications and offering you personalized tips and guidance along the way.
Our mealtime management plan training attendees often comment on how much more they understand IDDSI and how they can best support those they care for. It’s a real game-changer, and can go a long way in improving the experience of mealtimes for all involved in dysphagia care – including the person being supported!
Ready to get started with Mealtime Management Plan training? We offer this training in-person in and around North Brisbane, but you can also learn about dysphagia care via our accessible online training – available 24/7. Find out more about Mealtime Management Plan training with Speak and Swallow by getting in touch with our friendly team.