Registered Dietitian

About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to provide a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care. What began as a personal mission has grown into one of Western Canada’s leading senior living and continuing care providers.

Today, Optima Living offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health, and Memory Care across Alberta and British Columbia. Our innovative approach includes Spark, Your Wellness, Your Way; our proprietary brain health and care model. As the only Top 10 Canadian senior living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, we proudly serve more than 4,300 residents.

Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With a resident-first philosophy and a focus on innovation, we are redefining aging with purpose creating communities where seniors live with dignity, connection, and joy.

Position Summary
Reporting to the General Manager or designate, the Registered Dietitian (RD) is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the nutritional care of residents in Long-Term Care. The Registered Dietitian works collaboratively with residents, families, nursing, physicians, food services, and the interdisciplinary team to support optimal nutrition, hydration, health outcomes, and quality of life.

All duties and responsibilities are carried out in alignment with Optima Living’s mission, vision, and values, promoting person-centered care by respecting the uniqueness, dignity, preferences, and self-determination of residents. Duties are performed within the Registered Dietitian’s professional scope of practice, established organizational policies and procedures, evidence-informed practice, and applicable provincial legislation, regulations, and standards.

Responsibilities

• Completes comprehensive nutrition assessments for residents and identifies actual or potential nutrition-related risks and concerns.
• Develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates individualized nutrition care plans based on residents’ assessed needs, goals, preferences, and clinical conditions.
• Monitors residents for changes in nutritional status, including weight trends, oral intake, hydration, swallowing concerns, wounds, and other factors that may affect nutritional health.
• Develops appropriate nutrition interventions and recommendations, including therapeutic diets, texture-modified diets, oral nutrition supplements, and other nutrition supports within professional scope of practice.
• Reviews and follows up on referrals related to weight loss or gain, poor intake, dysphagia, wounds, hydration, enteral nutrition, food allergies and intolerances, and other nutrition-related concerns.
• Collaborates with nursing, physicians, food services, rehabilitation professionals, and other members of the interdisciplinary team regarding residents’ nutritional care.
• Participates in resident care conferences and provides nutrition-related education and recommendations to residents, families, and substitute decision-makers as appropriate.
• Supports resident choice, preferences, cultural considerations, and quality of life when developing nutrition interventions and recommendations.
• Works collaboratively with Food Services to ensure therapeutic and texture-modified diets are accurately implemented and residents’ nutritional requirements are supported.
• Provides education and clinical guidance to team members regarding geriatric nutrition, hydration, malnutrition, dysphagia, therapeutic diets, and nutrition-related best practices.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a major in Dietetics, Nutrition, or an equivalent recognized qualification.
• Current registration and in good standing as a Dietitian with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).
• Completion of an accredited dietetic internship or equivalent practical training.
• Clinical dietetics experience required; experience in long-term care, geriatrics, seniors living, or complex continuing care is preferred.
• Knowledge of geriatric nutrition, malnutrition, hydration, therapeutic diets, dysphagia, and IDDSI/texture-modified diets.
• Knowledge and understanding of nutrition considerations associated with chronic disease, wounds, cognitive impairment, and changing health status in older adults.
• Demonstrated ability to assess nutritional status and develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate individualized nutrition care plans.
• Strong clinical judgment, assessment, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally and maintain respectful relationships with residents, families, team members, physicians, volunteers, and visitors.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to provide education to residents, families, and team members.
• Demonstrates the ability to effectively organize workload, establish priorities, and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Conditions of Employment

• Clear Police Information Check.
• Clear Vulnerable Sector Check.
• Successful completion of all mandatory Provincial Health Requirements.
• Current registration and good standing with the applicable regulatory college in British Columbia.

#IDCO2