Rhys; The common malnutrition is largely because of insufficient staffing; Yes people are ill and sick; But that is WHY they need staff to ensure that they eat and do not get sicker. We can only do this is we have higher staffing levels. And that will cost money!

You obviously have a personal axe to grind Tristan, & it is getting boring. There is nothing worse than someone who applies their unhappiness with one institution to a whole sector, or expects their slightest desire to be funded by someone else.

My experience.

My mother was completely bedridden, & could not sit up without help after a procedure, that should not have happened to a 98 year old, in a Qld public hospital.

They failed to feed or water her for 30 hours, due to the total inefficiency of weekend nurses, & their management.

When the large hospital wanted rid of her, the small local public hospital refused to take her because of her platelet count. They couldn't manage that they said, so suggested a nursing home should, for gods sake.

She was never able to sit up unassisted again, or feed herself. However the nursing home brought her back to reasonable health, although their physiotherapist could not get her mobile again, despite valiant efforts.

Those country town girls & women, unqualified & low paid as they are, did a much better job of looking after & in fact caring for my mother, than the highly qualified & paid public hospital nurses.

I will be forever grateful to them. It was not the cheapest place, nor was it exorbitant. Perhaps you are not good at choosing the right places. From general discussion, I can't find a nursing home on our extended area that is not well thought of.

Oh that's right, "it's just me"; Which must be why Lateline devoted two nights in a row solely to the issue of Aged Care, including instances of abuse, neglect - or just plain incapability for workers to cope.

You say: "it's getting boring". I'm so sorry if I bore you. If you really don't care then just let the issue drop.

It sounds like the hospital gave your mother a raw deal; the same with my grandmother - We should have held those responsible accountable - but were so overwhelmed with finding her accommodation and rehabilitation with no notice.

Here's some of the transcripts from Lateline; Acquaint yourself with the material before taking me to task again:

See: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3803710.htm
and: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3803716.htm
and: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3804573.htm

You may have found a decent place for your loved one. But we found the best place we could after looking around a lot. There were kind people there - that made a big difference. But even still the facility was under-resourced. We had to visit personally to ensure my grandmother ate. And basically people were sat in a common room all today.

If the system is so good then what problem do you have with minimum standards? What problem do you have with ratios to ensure staff are not over-stretched - with the consequences I've already spoken of? What problem do you have with mandating the provision of heating and cooling; regular visits by doctors and dentists; planning provisions that ensure people can enjoy time in the sunlight when the weather is right?... What problem do you have with establishing standards so all who have the need get quality palliative care? What problem do you have with high intensity residents having access to information technology?

John Kelly - who represents the not-for-profit sector in aged care tried to stay clear of the word 'crisis' - but he conceded there was a "Chronic Under-Funding' problem. It will get worse with an ageing population.

I'm told there have been improvements since my grandmother's experience. Perhaps. But the Lateline programs suggest the problems have not gone away.

I'm sorry also if you think my 'slightest desire' for providing for the basic human rights of our aged citizens is 'boring' you as well; And that it 'is not your problem' (your apparent attitude) - given your apparent individualist philosophy which seems to have a problem with social solidarity 'in principle' no matter what the human cost...

The following remains true:

Broad standards exist and comprise an improvement from the time of my personal experience with the system from around 1995-2000.

But nonetheless there are problems with a 'revolving door' of staff - because it is a stressful job; there are insufficient pay scales and career paths; aged care nurses face effective discrimination; many facilities are under-staffed.

To really adequately meet standards of intellectual ,cultural, spiritual engagement - Again these standards and promises are empty without funding. Only funding means there will be books, information and communications technology etc.

We need ongoing independent studies funded for a variety of advocacy groups which establish the way in which standards are being met; and whether our interpretation of 'sufficient' standards is good enough.

There needs to be much more robust policing of standards - As the Lateline reports show these standards are often not met in practice regardless of aspirations. Again malnutrition is a big problem - and requires sufficient staffing levels. The same applies re: turning in beds, changing nappies and clothes and bathing whenever necessary. There is no getting around the fact this requires funding.

Again John Kelly concedes a "Chronic Funding Shortage" - How clear can you get?

Tristan you have to stop watching those W*s on the ABC. Too much will make you go blind, don't you know.