Dysphagia assessment & Support for Aged Care Facilities in New Zealand
Practical systems, training, and clinical support to help your team manage swallowing safely and confidently.
From individual resident care to facility-wide systems , we meet you where you are.
ARE YOU SEEING THIS IN YOUR FACILITY?
You’re doing your best, but:
Residents with swallowing difficulties aren’t always clearly identified
Referrals to Speech Language Therapy are inconsistent or delayed
Staff confidence varies across shifts
Kitchen teams are unsure about IDDSI or texture-modified meals
Thickened fluids are used, but not always safely or consistently
After a choking or aspiration event, it’s unclear what should change
None of this comes from a lack of care.
It comes from a system that hasn’t been built to support the level of need in residential care today.
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Dysphagia is the Norm in Aged Care
Over 50% of residents experience swallowing difficulties
Many require texture-modified diets or fluid modifications
Access to Speech Language Therapy is often limited
Yet most care homes are expected to manage this without consistent systems or support.
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We Help You Build a System
We work alongside your team to create a clear, practical, and realistic approach to dysphagia care.
So instead of:
- Reacting to incidents
- Working outside scope
- Relying on memory or individual staff knowledgeYou have:
- Clear processes
- Confident teams
- Access to clinical expertise
- Safer, more consistent care -
Identify → Connect → Learn & Embed
1. Identify Residents with Dysphagia
Early identification reduces risk and improves outcomes.
We support your team to:
Use simple screening tools like EAT-10
Recognise signs of swallowing difficulty
Escalate concerns early
2. Connect to Clinical Support
On-Site & Virtual Dysphagia Clinic
We provide accessible Speech Language Therapy support:
Swallowing assessments
Individualised care plans
Risk feeding guidance
Ongoing clinical review
This ensures your residents receive timely, appropriate intervention, not delayed or one-off input.
3. Embed Systems and Training Across Your Facility
We help you build capability across your entire team:
Dysphagia and IDDSI training
Kitchen and menu support
Policy and documentation development
Referral pathways that actually work
Continuous learning
So your team knows:
What to do, when to do it, and how to do it safely
