The federal government claims that a consumer-driven, free-market-based residential aged care system will provide “world class” care. However, the so-called “consumers” are often frail, elderly people, many with dementia. How can they demand a high quality service on the free market?

And when heartbreaking stories about inadequate personal care, neglect, abuse and negligence are reported in the media, the aged care industry claims these stories as “one-offs”. But are they?

There are around 2,700 aged care homes in Australia. Although some are excellent, many operate without enough staff. Managers who are under pressure to meet their profit targets do so by reducing staff.

When an aged care home has insufficient staff, there may not be time to walk a resident to the toilet or help them out of bed

Yet the key to quality care in aged care homes is the opposite: a high ratio of staff-to-residents. However, unlike childcare centres and hospitals, there is no federal legislative requirement for aged care homes to have mandated staff ratios or skill prerequisites. The decision whether to have a registered nurse on duty is also at the discretion of the provider.

Staff in aged care homes are often hard-working, dedicated people doing a very difficult job for not much pay. When an aged care home has insufficient staff, there may not be time to walk residents to the toilet or even help them out of bed. All too often relatives feed, shower and dress residents because staff are too busy.

Older people living in aged care home need to be protected in the form of effective regulation, mandated staff ratios and a rigorous accreditation system. The care of vulnerable older people is too important to be left to the whims of the free market.