Over 70% of Nursing Home Staff Report Meal Provision Duties as 'Excessive to the Point of Impairing Care'; 'Meal Assistance' Identified as Most Burdensome Task

The Reality of the "Invisible Burden" of Meal Provision Duties in Nursing Care Settings, Stealing Time from Interacting with Users

In nursing care facilities, meals are not just a time for nutritional intake. They are also a crucial time that supports the health of users and fosters communication. However, the reality is that staff responsible for meal provision are burdened with a heavier workload than imagined. From menu creation to cooking, serving, meal assistance, and cleanup. A series of processes requires specialized consideration, and each task consistently takes away time from the frontline.

Therefore, this time, in collaboration with pocher, pre-cooked meals for elderly and welfare facilities, we conducted a survey on "The Reality of the Burden of Meal Provision Duties in Nursing Care Facilities" targeting 50 men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "have experience working in nursing care facilities."

*When quoting the content of this press release, please comply with the following: ・State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and pocher." ・Provide a link to pocher, pre-cooked meals for elderly and welfare facilities (https://pocher.jp/). ・Provide a link to the relevant article (https://pocher.jp/column/pg6252699.html).

"Survey Outline on the Reality of the Burden of Meal Provision Duties in Nursing Care Facilities" Survey method: Online questionnaire Survey period: April 19, 2026 - April 26, 2026 Respondents: Men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "have experience working in nursing care facilities." Valid responses: 50 samples Questions: Question 1: What was the meal provision method at the facility where you worked (or are working)? Question 2: Among the tasks related to meal provision, which did you feel was particularly burdensome? Question 3: Please tell us the reason. Question 4: Did you feel that the amount of work involved in meal provision was so extensive that it interfered with user care and nursing duties? Question 5: What specific effects did it have? Question 6: If the burden of meal provision duties were reduced, do you think you would be able to spend more time interacting and communicating with users? Question 7: Please tell us the reason.

*As a general rule, figures are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

70.0% responded that meal provision was "in-house cooking direct management method"

First, we asked about the meal provision method at the facility where they worked (or are working). The result showed that "in-house cooking direct management method" was the most common at 70.0%. This was followed by "outsourcing to external contractors" at 24.0%, "other" at 4.0%, and "utilization of pre-cooked meals" at 2.0%. It can be seen that the direct management method, where meals are prepared from scratch in-house, remains the mainstream. On the other hand, a certain number of respondents had experience with outsourcing to external contractors, indicating that there is variation in provision styles depending on the facility's policy.

36.0% responded that "meal assistance" was the most burdensome task among meal provision duties

Next, we asked about the tasks related to meal provision that they felt were particularly burdensome. The most common response was "meal assistance" at 36.0%. This was followed by "menu creation" at 14.0% and "serving" at 10.0%.

We asked for reasons why they felt burdened by each task, and here are some of them:

Those who responded "meal assistance": - Many elderly people cannot eat by themselves, and there are not enough hands. (30s, female) - Because assistance is required to cope with swallowing function. (40s, female) - Because I have to be careful about aspiration. (40s, male)

Those who responded "menu creation": - It's difficult to respond to various patients. (40s, female) - Because it's every day. (60s, male) - It's hard to think. (60s, male)

Those who responded "serving": - Because there are various residents. (40s, female) - I have to be careful while checking each individual. (50s, female) - Meals must be served without mistakes to users with dietary restrictions. (70s, male)

It is clear that meal provision duties require a high degree of specialization, such as individualized support tailored to each user's condition and consideration for swallowing function and aspiration risk. It seems that not a few staff members feel both physical and mental burden within limited human resources and time.

72.0% responded that meal provision duties were "excessive to the point of impairing" care and nursing duties

Next, we asked whether they felt that the amount of work involved in meal provision was so extensive that it interfered with care and nursing duties. The result showed that 28.0% "strongly felt" it and 44.0% "somewhat felt" it, totaling 72.0% who felt it interfered.