If an ageing Australia is shaping up as a problem for future Australian governments, an ageing Europe is shaping up as a nightmare. In some countries, the number of children is already falling dramatically.

MORE than 70 aged care residents were yesterday united in their support of calls for the federal government to increase subsidies to maintain the viability of nursing homes and other facilities.

Aged care providers are calling for urgent financial help from the Federal Government to rescue what they are describing as a system in crisis.

Ararat Retirement Village's management committee is urging people to get behind an aged care national day of action on April 6.

Committee president Eric Van Opstal said the day of action for Victorian Association of Health and Extended Care members was to highlight concerns over the state of aged care funding.

The Government is not doing enough to meet the challenge of our ageing population, writes David Edwards.