The candidate card
Setting
Aged care facility
Candidate
You are the dietitian at an aged care facility. Ms Bhavana Hegde's mother, aged 86, has mild dementia and has lost 5 kg over the last three months, and her nutrition screening now shows she is at high risk of malnutrition. The GP has been asked to assess her for other possible causes of the weight loss and will see her this week; alongside this, you plan to fortify her meals, add snacks between meals and start an oral nutritional supplement drink. Ms Hegde has asked to speak with you after visiting her mother at lunchtime today.
Task (interlocutor: relative)
- Acknowledge what Ms Hegde saw at lunchtime and reassure her that help from staff at mealtimes will be part of her mother's plan
- Find out more about her mother's eating (appetite, eating habits, food preferences, what helps her eat)
- Explain why older people with dementia may lose weight, why it matters, and that the GP is checking for other causes
- Explain the nutrition plan (extra energy and protein in meals, snacks between meals, supplement drink in addition to help at meals)
- Agree how staff and family can work together and arrange a review
In the test you get 3 minutes to read the card and plan, then about 5 minutes to talk. This card is original, written for this site; the interlocutor's card is not shown.
How to approach this card
- Start by acknowledging what her daughter saw at lunchtime and say staff help at mealtimes is part of the plan. She is likely worried or upset, so settle that before asking questions.
- Ask about her mother's appetite, favourite foods, habits and what helps her eat. Family often know preferences staff do not, and this tells her mother's plan is personal and her input matters.
- Explain simply why people with dementia can lose weight and why it matters, then say the GP is checking for other causes this week. Do not suggest a cause or promise the weight will return.
- Describe the plan in three parts: extra energy and protein in meals, snacks between meals, and the supplement drink alongside mealtime help. Stress the drink is an addition, not a substitute for food.
- If time is short, prioritise the reassurance, the three-part plan and the review date. Close by agreeing how family and staff will share information, for example what the daughter notices on visits.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- Thank you for telling me what you saw today. It helps us get this right.
- What does your mother enjoy eating, and what seems to help her at meals?
- The doctor is checking for other reasons for the weight loss this week.
- How would you like us to keep you updated, and what can you help with?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| malnutrition risk | A higher chance she isn't getting enough food and nutrients for her body's needs. |
| fortified meals | Everyday meals with extra energy and protein added, without making portions bigger. |
| oral nutritional supplement | A nourishing drink given in addition to meals and snacks. |
How this card is marked
Two assessors mark the recording on nine criteria: intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language and resources of grammar and expression (each 0–6), then relationship building, understanding and incorporating the patient's perspective, providing structure, information gathering and information giving (each 0–3). Grade B usually means 5 on each language criterion and 2 on each clinical one. See the AI Speaking practice guide for what each criterion looks for.
More Dietetics role-play cards
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- Toddler with iron deficiency and high milk intake Paediatric outpatient clinic
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Dietetics.
Questions about this role-play
What should I do first, given she asked to speak after lunch?
Acknowledge what she saw and respond to her feelings before any information gathering. Mention that mealtime help is part of the plan. Then ask questions, so she knows her concern is being treated as important.
Can I tell her the weight loss is due to dementia?
No. Say that dementia can make eating harder and that people with dementia may lose weight, but the GP is checking for other possible causes. Avoid stating a cause as certain or promising an outcome.
How do I explain the supplement drink without it replacing meals?
Say it is an extra on top of fortified meals, snacks and help at mealtimes, not a replacement. Ask her about her mother's taste preferences, which may influence how it is offered, and explain that you will review how it is going.
Sources
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