The dietitians in Adult Community Service assess and treat adult clients (over the age of 16) with nutrition related disorders.

Dietitians provide nutritional support to clients, their family and caregivers by:

• explaining the role of food in disease management
• helping clients to make choices about foods which suit them and their lifestyle.

What to expect

You will be seen in your own home or at a clinic at the Greenlane Clinical Centre.

First assessment appointments may take up to an hour and follow-up appointments will generally be around 30 minutes. You are encouraged to invite carers, family or whānau to be present during sessions with the dietitian.

What will the dietitian do?

Assessment:

- ask questions about your meal patterns, food choices and lifestyle. This will include questions about the type and amount of food and drink that you have

- measure your height and weight if needed

- the dietitian may also ask you to keep a written record of what you eat and drink.

Education:

- work with you and your family/whānau to provide a personalised nutrition plan

- explain any recommendations made and why they are needed

- provide written information about these recommendations.

Support:

- monitor your food and fluid intake and suggest ways to improve your health

- provide follow up appointments as required

- with your consent, we refer you to other services as you require (for instance – physiotherapists, district nurses)

- talk to you and your family/whānau about other groups and health professionals that can provide ongoing support when you no longer need to be seen by the dietitian

- send a summary of your nutrition care to your GP and/or referrer.

What do you need to do?

Dietitians provide information and support to help you to choose the best foods for your health. To do this you and the dietitian need to work together. You can help by:

- telling us as much as you can about the foods you choose and the amounts that you eat and drink

- asking about things that you don’t understand

- trying the changes that are suggested by the dietitian

- telling us about how the changes are going and if you are managing them

- telling us if you have difficulty understanding the written and/or the spoken information that we give.

How to access the service

Call our Base team on 0800 631 1234.

Contact details

Contact Adult Community Services base team on 0800 631 1234. You may need to leave a message and a dietitian will return your call when they are available.

FAQs

What information is required for Screening Dietitian Referrals?

• Medical history
• Medications
• Current weight
• Well weight +/- presence of oedema
• Amount of weight loss (if any) and time period (if available)
• Appetite and factors affecting food intake e.g. nausea, constipation, swallowing problems
• Social support
• Alerts e.g. cognition, dentition problems
• Relevant biochemistry