SPC has established SPC Care as its dedicated nutritional health care company in response to the findings in the recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the 2021 Federal Budget.
SPC Care aims to provide older or infirmed Australians with food to meet diverse and specific nutritional needs. The company has built a centre of excellence in science-based nutrition, which looks at unlocking more information surrounding nutritional elements of locally-grown fruit, grains and vegetables.
Earlier this year in May, the Royal Commission found two out of three people in aged care facilities were “malnourished or at risk of malnutrition”. In response, the federal government has lifted the basic daily fee for residents by $10 in the Federal Budget.
This increase, however, does mandate what proportion of the basic daily fee is used for meals and meal provision as it can be used by care providers to fund other needs, such as laundry and facilities management.
SPC chairman Hussein Rifai said the company believes positive action needs to be taken now and better food be serviced to aged residents in facilities and at home.
“Like most Australians, we found the commission’s findings alarming and believe the government should ensure that the resultant increase in the daily fee for residents have a mandated amount that is allocated to meals and thus better food solutions for them,” said Rifai.
“We are determined to take leadership of this important issue by establishing a dedicated company focused on improving nutrition for the older population living both in care facilities and at home.
“Currently more than 15 per cent of Australians are 65 years or older and this number is expected to grow to 19.9 per cent by 2058. Many industrial countries around the world are experiencing similar demographic shift in the age of their population.”
Establishing SPC Care will also encourage further investment in development funds to expand the company’s product range and food delivery models.
SPC chief commercial officer Bree Vidovich said the new company will expand the current range of tasty and nutritious meals that will cater for different ethnic groups, different religious and other dietary requirements.
“As an example, we are making food products easy to open for people that suffer from arthritis and other meal solutions that cater for people with health issues, including dysphagia, diabetes and gluten intolerance,” said Vidovich.
“Creating these science-based meals, snacks, and beverages will reduce food waste at the point of consumption, improve the mental health of the consumer and most importantly improve the overall health of our ageing population.”
In February, SPC launched its ready meal business The Good Meal Company in Tasmania, following the acquisition of its parent outfit Kuisine Co in October 2020.
The Good Meal Company has been supplying meals to public hospitals, the NDIS, health services, aged care providers, Meals on Wheels and other foodservice clients and its move into the Tasmanian market will extend that to NDIS participants and home care residents in that state.
