ELDERLY patients are being over-medicated, served cold food and left to urinate in their beds and wheelchairs at aged-care homes because of serious staffing shortages, a national phone-in has found.

THE number of residential aged care places in Australia increased in 2002-03 as the nation's population continued to age, an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report released today shows.

NURSES' union phones rang hot today as nurses, the elderly and their families called to air their concerns about the state of the aged care sector.

Older Australians living in Eaton, Western Australia, will benefit from a new aged care home opened today by Minister for Ageing Julie Bishop and the Member for Forrest, Geoff Prosser.

YEARS ago, when the so-called Mosman granny killer was arrested, the then police minister received a note from an acquaintance: "Can you please let him out on parole. My mother is arriving on Monday."

People in rural and regional areas interested in pursuing a rewarding and challenging career in aged care nursing should act quickly to apply for an Australian Government, Aged Care Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship, Minister for Ageing Julie Bishop said today.

Some aged care homes in Tasmania have just one registered nurse for 100 residents, the Australian Nursing Federation said yesterday.

More than 10,000 young Australians will live in aged-care facilities by 2007 unless something is done to slow the rising rate of admissions, a lobby group has warned.

VICTORIA'S nurses are at war with the Bracks Government over who should administer drugs such as morphine and insulin in aged care hostels.

Elderly dementia patients from non-English speaking backgrounds communicate more with others and take fewer psychiatric medications when living in ethno-specific nursing homes, an Australian study at Monash University has revealed.