Behind every nourishing meal our residents enjoy is a dedicated team — including our chefs, hotel services teams and dietitians, all focused on supporting resident wellbeing and nutrition.  That focus can also be preventative.  

During Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a timely reminder that everyday choices —  such as healthy eating, movement where possible and taking part in recommended screening — can all play a role in reducing bowel cancer risk and supporting early detection.  

Uniting AgeWell’s Dietician Philippa (Pip) Spence says there are some dietary risk factors for bowel cancer including eating a high intake of red meat and processed meats, inadequate fibre intake and lack of fruits and vegetables as well as high alcohol intake. 

“Some ways to lower the risk of bowel cancer through diet are eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables every day, choosing higher fibre grains such as wholemeal bread and pasta and including nuts, seeds and legumes in the diet,” explains Pip.  “Avoiding or having low amounts of alcohol is also important.” 

At Uniting AgeWell, supporting good nutrition is part of everyday care. Hotel Services Director (Victoria) Janette Anderson says menus across our residential aged care sites are regularly reviewed and assessed by qualified dietitians to ensure they meet the nutritional needs of older people.  

Independent menu and mealtime audits are also conducted annually, with recommendations helping guide continual improvement. 

“One of the strengths of residential care dining is the opportunity to provide regular, nutritious meals and snacks in a supportive environment,” Janette explains.  

Residents also help shape what appears on the menu through Food Focus Groups held across our residential sites. These regular conversations give residents a voice in the winter and summer menus, with their feedback listened to and taken on board.  

Bowel Cancer Australia encourages people to learn more about prevention, screening, early detection and support.  Diet is one powerful tool for prevention, but there are others you can consider: 

Other simple and everyday actions to incorporate are: 

• Choose higher-fibre foods where suitable. 
• Keep active in safe, enjoyable ways. 
• Know the signs and speak to a GP if something feels different. 
• Take part in bowel cancer screening when eligible.