Tens of thousands of elderly residents could be put at an unnecessary risk after homes failed to meet a deadline set for six weeks ago to create an environment of heightened safety for their frail residents, the Federal Opposition has claimed.

The homes were given two years and half a billion dollars to get their buildings up to scratch with sprinklers, fire doors and safety equipment.

Opposition spokeswoman for the ageing Jan McLucas said elderly nursing home residents were being put at risk, and $150 million of public money was unaccounted for.

"Thousands and thousands of vulnerable residents of aged-care facilities are at risk of fire because the Howard Government is still failing to enforce its own fire safety standards," Senator McLucas said.

In June 2004, the Federal Government provided a one-off payment of $3500 for each resident to be spent on capital improvements to meet the fire safety standards. The total Government funding for this measure was $513.3 million.

However industry groups and nursing home operators said they were not given enough time to comply with the 1999 regulations.

Newly installed Minister for the Ageing Santo Santoro didn't respond to questions yesterday.

Former minister for the ageing Julie Bishop said last year that nursing homes would have their accreditation reviewed, with a view to being cancelled, if they failed to meet the deadline.

Aged Care Association CEO Rod Young said nursing homes already complied with the fire regulations required for every other building in Australia.

"But then the bar was raised again in 1999 which makes nursing homes required to meet a standard above and beyond every other building in Australia," Mr Young said.

"We have many providers who are working towards that standard, but might be redeveloping or selling their site.

"To say to someone, you need to spend $400,000 to comply with something that might be useful for six or nine months, is an extraordinary waste."

By Nicolette Burke

Article from www.heraldsun.news.com.au