NDIS Mealtime Management Plan

What is a Mealtime Management Plan?

An NDIS Mealtime Management Plan is a guideline created by a qualified Speech Pathologist after a swallowing assessment.

It provides recommendations around safety, satisfaction and independence at mealtimes for people living with dysphagia or difficulty swallowing.

A Mealtime Management Plan is developed by the Speech Pathologist together with the person with dysphagia, to ensure the individual’s preferences are upheld and any risks around mealtime safety can be discussed.

Mealtime Management Plan Development

Swallowing Assessment

First, a comprehensive clinical swallowing assessment will be conducted by our qualified Speech Pathologist.

This will include obtaining a detailed case history and understanding of your presenting dysphagia/mealtime needs, as well as observing you eat and drink, preferably at a mealtime.

Clinical Recommendations

After the swallowing assessment, our Speech Pathologist will provide recommendations to support your safety and enjoyment at meals.

These recommendations may include the following:

Modified food and drink consistencies – as per the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) Framework
Specialised mealtime equipment
Supervision and assistance
Positioning or seating requirements
Environmental modifications
Safe swallowing strategies
Oral care

Modified Food and Drinks

Mealtime Management Plans will always include a diet and fluid recommendation in line with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative ( IDDSI).

The IDDSI Framework provides an international reference for the preparation and serving requirements of modified food and drinks to support people with swallowing difficulty .

During a swallowing assessment, your Speech Pathologist may ask you to trial different consistencies of food and drink.

Our Mealtime Management Plans include easy to follow instructions for testing food and fluid consistencies/size to comply with IDDSI standards.

Mealtime Management Training for Support Workers

At Mealtime Matters, our Speech Pathologists offer individualised mealtime training to NDIS participants and their supports in Melbourne.

Mealtime training provides a hands-on opportunity for support workers and carers to ask the Speech Pathologist questions around mealtime safety, observe optimal positioning requirements, learn safe feeding techniques and ensure food and drink preparation complies with IDDSI standards.

Support for NDIS participants with dysphagia and swallowing difficulty.

Review your NDIS Mealtime Management Plan today

Mealtime Matters acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands People as the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Victoria where our services are located, and pay our respects to Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging.