Does Your Facility Need IDDSI Training Now?
Many aged-care teams are working hard to keep residents safe during mealtimes — but the rules around texture-modified diets and thickened drinks can feel confusing. This is where IDDSI training becomes essential. When everyone understands the same standard, residents stay safer, and staff feel more confident.
What Is IDDSI?
The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is a global framework used to describe texture-modified foods and thickened drinks. It replaces old terms like “soft,” “mash,” “minced,” or “nectar-thick,” which were used differently across facilities.
IDDSI provides:
- Standardised terminolgy from Level 0 (Thin fluids) to Level 7 (Regular foods)
- Clear, testing methods (fork pressure test, flow test, spoon tilt test, etc)
When everyone speaks the same language, the risk of choking and aspiration reduces significantly.
Red Flags That Your Facility May Need IDDSI Training Now
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to consider structured IDDSI education:
- Different staff describe textures differently
- Residents receive meals that do not match their care plan or mealtime management plan
- No formal IDDSI testing in the kitchen
- New staff unsure of how to check thickened drinks
- Confusion with levels (e.g., “easy to chew” vs “soft & bite-sized”)
- Near-miss choking incidents
- “Too thick” or “too runny” drinks reported by residents
- Reliance on experience rather than IDDSI testing methods
Even small inconsistencies can lead to big risks — especially for residents living with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or post-stroke swallowing difficulties.
Why These Issues Happen
Most problems come down to training gaps, not lack of effort:
- Staff come from different facilities with different terminology
- Kitchen teams may be taught “recipes” rather than IDDSI testing
- Casual workers, agency staff, and new recruits may have limited IDDSI exposure
- Swallowing recommendations change over time
Without regular top-up training, inconsistencies become normal — and risk increases.
What Your Team Can Practically Do
IDDSI does not have to be complicated. Small, practical steps help immensely.
1. Use Test-Based Checks, Not Guesswork
Train staff to perform:
- IDDSI Flow Test
- Fork Drip Test
- Spoon Tilt Test
- Fork Pressure Test
These take seconds and prevent unsafe textures going out to residents.
2. Label Everything Clearly
- Fluids with the correct IDDSI level
- Purees, minced & moist meals, soft & bite-sized items
- Snacks, desserts, and sauces
Consistency reduces human error.
3. Build a Strong Communication System
- Keep care plans and mealtime management plan visible but confidential
- Ensure all shifts know changes to a resident’s diet
- Add IDDSI levels to handover notes
4. Review Processes Every 3–6 Months
Regular refreshers help maintain safety — especially in high-turnover teams.
When to Seek Help From a Speech Pathologist
You should engage professional support when:
- Your team is unsure how to test textures
- You’ve had a choking incident or near miss
- Residents complain that food is too hard to eat
- Staff feel overwhelmed or unsure
- Kitchen staff want clear recipes or demonstration
- Your facility is updating its menu or equipment
A speech pathologist trained in dysphagia and IDDSI can provide clear, evidence-based direction.
How Swallowing & Dysphagia Support Can Help Your Facility
At Swallowing & Dysphagia Support, we provide practical, hands-on IDDSI training tailored to aged-care environments.
Our training covers:
- What dysphagia is and how it affects residents
- IDDSI Levels 0–7 explained in simple terms
- Live demonstrations of IDDSI testing
- How to thicken fluids accurately
- How to prepare safe texture-modified meals
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Real-life case examples
- Handouts, posters, and kitchen tools
Your staff will walk away feeling:
- Confident in testing textures
- Clear on what is safe for each resident
- Able to prevent avoidable incidents
- Supported and not judged
We also offer:
- Menu modification support
- Ongoing refresher training
- Customised workshops for kitchen teams
Our goal is to make IDDSI part of your normal workflow so that mealtimes are safe, calm, and enjoyable for every resident.
Does Your Facility Need IDDSI Training Now?
If your team feels unsure, inconsistent, or overwhelmed, IDDSI training is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk and improve resident safety. Clear training helps your staff feel supported, and your residents feel safe at mealtimes.
