What does a Dietary Aide do?
Dietary Aides are typically employed by hospitals, medical facilities and assisted living facilities. They interact with residents and medical patients to ensure that they enjoy their meals. Their job is to cater to a variety of different people with varying health conditions and food preferences. They also collect trash, clean dishes and collect trays after each meal. They may also be responsible for arranging dining areas and setting tables in community dining spaces.
Dietary Aide skills and qualifications
Dietary Aides use a variety of skills and other qualifications to provide the most comprehensive support they can. These skills can include:
- Patience and compassion when working with residents and family members
- Ability to communicate effectively with residents, family members and team members
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to follow instructions for meal orders, nutritional needs and recipes to ensure residents and patients receive appropriate food
- Physical stamina to assist in food preparation and serving meals, helping residents with eating and cleaning up after meals
Dietary Aide salary expectations
Dietary Aides make an average of $10.96 per hour. Pay rate may depend on a candidate’s education, experience level and geographical location.
Dietary Aide education and training requirements
Most facilities employing Dietary Aides require that applicants have at least a high school diploma and a minimum of 1 year of experience with institutional food service. However, some may require candidates to have an associate degree in nutrition or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Employers may require Dietary Aides to participate in continuing education courses and on-site training.
Dietary Aide experience requirements
Experience requirements for Dietary Aides can vary from employer to employer. Typically, Dietary Aides are expected to have previous experience in a food service role. Dietary Aides should have experience preparing food, operating cooking equipment and maintaining kitchen and dining area cleanliness. Some employers may prefer candidates with prior experience working in nursing homes or assisted living facilities through volunteer opportunities.
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