Oral Nutritional Supplements
Maximising Effectiveness, Minimising Waste
At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we follow a clear guiding principle: Food First – Supplement Where Necessary.
Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) can play a valuable therapeutic role in aged care, but they should never replace a nourishing, enjoyable food experience. Used without review, supplements can become a costly and ineffective substitute, especially when tolerance, flavour preference, or clinical need is not regularly assessed.
Our dietitians are here to help you optimise supplement use, reduce unnecessary spend, and ensure every intervention delivers real value to both consumer health and your facility’s bottom line.
Why Review Oral Nutrition Supplements?
Many aged care homes experience:
- High supplement costs with minimal benefit
- Flavour fatigue leading to low compliance
- Unmonitored use, with supplements continued long after they are needed
- Over-reliance on supplements due to suboptimal food supply or unclear protocols
Our dietitians conduct structured Oral Nutrition Supplement Reviews that assess:
- Clinical indication and appropriateness
- Tolerance and enjoyment
- Impact on weight, wound healing, or other health goals
- Opportunities to transition to fortified food-first strategies
- The need to trial or cease specific products
This process often results in significant cost savings and improved satisfaction from residents and care staff.
Our Supplement Support Includes:
- Individual supplement audits and compliance reviews
- Regular monitoring of effectiveness and consumption patterns
- Ceasing ineffective or unwanted supplements to prevent waste
- Introducing variety to combat flavour fatigue
- Guiding product selection for specific clinical or dietary needs
We work closely with clinical, care and catering teams to ensure that supplement use is always appropriate, goal-driven, and well-tolerated.
Specialised Supplement Options
Our team provides support and product knowledge across a wide range of options, including:
- Pre-thickened supplements for residents with dysphagia
- Allergy-friendly and intolerance-specific products
- Powdered fortification agents to enhance food intake naturally
- A variety of milk-based, fruit-based and savoury-flavoured options to meet resident preferences
- High-energy, high-protein products to support malnutrition and wound healing goals
We also liaise with our network of health professionals, product reps and local suppliers to connect you with the most suitable options for your consumers.
Supporting the Standards
Our oral supplement review process aligns with:
- Standard 3: The Care – Monitoring nutrition interventions and outcomes
- Standard 6: Food and Nutrition – Ensuring nutrition is delivered in a way that is both effective and enjoyable
- Standard 2: The Organisation – Minimising waste and improving resource efficiency
- Quality Indicator Program – Addressing indicators related to weight loss and unplanned health events
Let us help you take control of your supplement spend while improving nutrition outcomes.
Contact Optimum Intake Dietitians to schedule an Oral Nutrition Supplement Review at your facility.
