Aged care is rarely a sexy vote winner for political parties but as the population is ageing pollies are having to pay more attention to aged care as an important topic in the discussion.

Caregivers either at home or in paid roles are squeezed by expectations to provide high quality care with minimal support and in some cases inadequate support. Residential carers are expected to provide person-centred care when the staffing levels are clearly inadequate for them to do so. This is complicated by poor pay for nursing leaders encouraging good quality nurses to leave aged care and return to acute care where they can get more money. This leaves aged care with too few nurse leaders.

So can we get the pollies to acknowledge the need for more staff per person in residential care? Ask your local politician when next you email them!!