Aged care workers and nurses want federal MPs to realise more money is needed to guarantee there's enough skilled staff to care for the elderly.
A delegation from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and United Workers Union will be at Parliament House on Tuesday to urge the Morrison government to mandate staff ratios in the May budget.
"Reform can't wait. More delays mean more suffering for older Australians," ANMF federal secretary Annie Butler said.
"We're calling on the prime minister to guarantee that residents receive the safe, dignified care they deserve, by introducing mandated staffing levels and skill mixes in nursing homes as a matter of urgency."
UWU aged care director Carolyn Smith said workers have had enough with delays, buck-passing and report after report.
"Politicians need to understand the cost of doing nothing, or doing too little, is paid by older Australians who do not get the care or safety they desperately need," she said.
The final report of the aged care royal commission identified unacceptably low levels of staffing as the key contributor to substandard care across the system.
"There are many ingredients that enable the provision of high quality and safe aged care, but it cannot be achieved without the sector having enough staff with the skills and time to care," the report found.
The delegation will seek meetings with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt, Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Labor, the Greens and key crossbenchers.
Australian Associated Press
