Every morning in aged care homes across Australia, a predictable routine unfolds: residents are woken early, assisted with dressing, and guided to the dining room, often by 8am sharp, regardless of their preferences.
In 2025, with person-centred care at the forefront of aged care reform, this rigid schedule raises a critical question: why are we still prioritising institutional efficiency over residents’ dignity and choice?
The 8am breakfast routine
The early breakfast schedule is less about meeting residents’ nutritional needs and more about entrenched operational practices. Many aged care facilities operate on tight schedules driven by staff rosters, shift changes, and task-oriented care models. Residents, often in their 80s and 90s, are expected to adhere to a timetable that many younger, working adults would find gruelling.
Feedback from care workers and residents highlights growing unease with this approach. In discussions in online aged care worker forums, care workers have described the morning rush as a source of stress for residents, who often feel pressured to comply with schedules that don’t align with their preferences.
One care worker noted in a private forum, “We don’t expect retirees living independently to be dressed and eating by 8am. Why is this the standard in aged care?” Residents, too, express a desire for slower mornings, with some preferring a quiet cup of tea or coffee in their room and breakfast closer to 9 or 10am.
Research supports these concerns. A 2021 study in the Journal of Aging and Health found that older adults often experience disrupted sleep patterns due to age-related changes, such as lighter sleep or frequent waking. Forcing early wake-ups can exacerbate fatigue and reduce overall wellbeing.
The study also noted that allowing older adults to follow their natural sleep rhythms improves mood, cognitive function, and quality of life. Yet, in many aged care homes, residents are woken as early as 6:30am to meet dining room deadlines, leaving little room for rest or personal choice.
The right to a slower morning
Older adults are not a monolithic group; their sleep preferences vary. A 2023 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that 60% of aged care residents reported a preference for later wake-up times, with many citing a desire for a gentler start to the day.
A sleep-in until 8:30 or 9am, followed by a relaxed morning routine with a warm drink or a shower, aligns more closely with how many older Australians would choose to start their day if given the opportunity.
However, operational constraints often dictate otherwise. Staffing ratios, particularly during morning shifts, can limit flexibility. The 2020 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety highlighted understaffing as a systemic issue, with morning routines often rushed to accommodate limited personnel.
Shift handovers, typically occurring between 7 and 8am, further incentivise completing tasks like dressing and meal service early, even if it means waking residents prematurely.
This efficiency-driven approach prioritises checklists over individual needs, undermining the principles of person-centred care mandated by Australia’s 2023 Aged Care Quality Standards.
Rethinking morning routines
To align with person-centred care, aged care homes could adopt more flexible morning routines. Practical changes include:
These changes require investment in staff training and potentially higher staffing levels, but they are feasible. Some progressive facilities, like those trialling “household models” of care (where residents live in smaller, home-like units with flexible schedules), have already implemented such practices with positive outcomes.
A 2023 evaluation of household models by the University of Sydney found a 30% reduction in resident stress and a 15% increase in staff satisfaction due to less rigid routines.
Balancing dignity with operational realities
Aged care providers face real challenges, including funding constraints and workforce shortages. The AIHW reported in 2024 that 70% of aged care facilities operate with staff-to-resident ratios below recommended levels during peak morning hours.
Providers argue that fixed schedules streamline operations and ensure all residents receive timely care. However, this efficiency often comes at the cost of resident autonomy, turning homes into environments that feel more institutional than homely.
The push for change doesn’t mean providers are neglecting care. Many are working within tight budgets and regulatory pressures while striving to meet residents’ needs. The 2023 Aged Care Act encourages person-centred care, and some providers are already exploring flexible schedules.
For example, a Queensland-based facility introduced a “late risers” breakfast club in 2024, allowing residents to dine at 9:30am, with positive feedback from both residents and families.
Home should feel like home
Residents in aged care didn’t sign up for an institution; they moved into a place promising comfort, safety, and dignity.
Waking them at 6:30am and expecting them dressed and ready for breakfast by 8am strips away a fundamental human right: choice. True person-centred care means meeting residents where they are, whether that’s under the doona at 8:15am with a coffee in hand or at the dining table at 10am.
The conversation around flexible mornings is gaining traction. Posts on X from families and care workers reflect growing support for change, with many calling for schedules that honour residents’ preferences. As Australia’s aged care sector evolves, rethinking rigid breakfast routines is a practical step toward delivering care that feels like home.
For providers unsure where to start, small changes, like piloting staggered meal times or documenting wake-up preferences, can make a significant difference. The evidence is clear: when residents have more control over their mornings, their wellbeing improves. It’s time to let them sleep in.
I agree with providing staggered breakfast times. Being rushed first thing in the morning sucks, even for younger people. Even worse when ageing. Flexibility is necessary in so many areas of aged care.
Can I please change my response ? Something more positive .
How do we change a routine pattern that has been happening for centuries with current and changing delivery of service requirements. We write things on paper and legislation changes . “patient centred care”, “home and rights and choices”. Can the current system provide brekky between 6am -10am ? Can you have a shower or wash at a selected time ?
I feel the later offering of a light breakfast at 9.30 for those who want to ease into the morning is feasible. I work in aged care and can see a possibility of this working for some people. Cruise ships have staggered meal times.