Dietary Aide

Position Summary
The Dietary Aide supports daily meal service and food service operations within the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). This role assists with meal preparation, tray assembly, dining room service, food delivery, dishwashing, sanitation, stocking, and other dietary activities while following resident-specific diet instructions and facility food safety procedures.The Dietary Aide works closely with the Dietary Cook, Dietary Supervisor, Certified Dietary Manager, nursing staff, and other dietary personnel to help ensure residents receive meals safely, accurately, and on time.
Key Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation and service of meals, snacks, and nourishments according to facility menus and dietary procedures.
• Assemble resident meal trays according to diet cards, tray tickets, meal specifications, and resident preferences.
• Verify that meals and beverages are consistent with the resident's assigned diet, texture, and liquid consistency requirements before delivery.
• Deliver meals and snacks to resident rooms, dining areas, and other designated locations.
• Assist residents with meal setup and opening food containers or packages when appropriate.
• Communicate meal-related concerns or resident needs to nursing or dietary leadership.
• Assist with dining room setup, meal service, and cleanup.
• Collect meal trays and return appropriate equipment and supplies after meals.
• Wash, sanitize, and properly store dishes, utensils, trays, and kitchen equipment.
• Maintain clean and sanitary kitchen, dining, food preparation, and storage areas.
• Follow proper hand hygiene, personal hygiene, sanitation, and infection prevention procedures.
• Follow food safety practices to prevent contamination and maintain safe food handling.
• Assist with monitoring and recording food temperatures as assigned.
• Assist with proper food storage, labeling, dating, rotation, and disposal.
• Stock dietary supplies, food items, beverages, and service equipment as assigned.
• Assist with basic food preparation tasks such as washing, cutting, portioning, assembling, and serving food as directed.
• Follow instructions for handling food allergies and resident-specific dietary requirements.
• Report missing items, incorrect trays, food quality concerns, spills, equipment problems, or unsafe conditions to dietary leadership.
• Assist with special meals, holidays, activities, and resident-centered dining events as assigned.
• Follow safe procedures when operating dishwashers, food service equipment, carts, and other dietary equipment.
• Maintain appropriate resident privacy, dignity, and confidentiality during meal service.
• Complete required dietary and sanitation documentation accurately and timely.
• Participate in required food safety, infection prevention, and facility training.
• Perform other dietary and food service duties assigned by the Dietary Supervisor or facility leadership.

SNF Function / Scope Distinction
The Dietary Aide supports the day-to-day delivery of safe and accurate meals to SNF residents.Unlike a general food service position, the Dietary Aide must follow resident-specific diet cards, tray tickets, texture requirements, liquid consistency instructions, allergies, and other approved dietary information when assembling and delivering meals.The Dietary Aide does not independently determine, prescribe, or modify a resident's diet. When there is uncertainty about a diet, meal restriction, allergy, texture, liquid consistency, or resident-specific dietary requirement, the concern should be referred to the appropriate dietary or nursing personnel.The Dietary Aide also plays an important resident-service role by helping ensure meals are delivered on time, presented appropriately, and provided in a manner that promotes resident dignity and comfort.
Usual Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous food service, dietary, restaurant, hospitality, customer service, or healthcare experience preferred.
• Previous SNF, long-term care, hospital, assisted living, or institutional food service experience preferred.
• Food Handler Card or applicable food safety certification may be required based on California and local requirements.
• Basic knowledge of food safety, sanitation, personal hygiene, and safe food handling required.
• Knowledge of resident-specific diets, modified textures, liquid consistencies, and food allergies preferred.
• Ability to accurately follow diet cards, tray tickets, menus, and meal service instructions required.
• Ability to safely operate or assist with kitchen, dishwashing, meal delivery, and food service equipment required.
• Strong attention to detail required to prevent incorrect meal or diet delivery.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills required.
• Ability to interact respectfully and patiently with elderly residents and individuals with varying physical and cognitive abilities required.
• Ability to maintain cleanliness and organization in a fast-paced food service environment required.
• Ability to follow infection prevention, safety, and facility procedures required.

Work Environment
The Dietary Aide works primarily in the SNF kitchen, dining areas, resident rooms, and designated food service areas.The position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, pushing meal carts, carrying food trays and supplies, washing dishes, and maintaining kitchen and dining areas.The Dietary Aide may work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on the facility's meal schedule and staffing needs.
Professional Standards
The Dietary Aide is expected to follow applicable California food safety and sanitation requirements, facility dietary procedures, resident diet instructions, infection prevention standards, and workplace safety practices. The Dietary Aide is responsible for providing accurate, timely, sanitary, and respectful meal service while supporting resident preferences, dignity, and quality of life.