Last Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a royal commission into aged care, spreading widespread concern about the treatment of elderly people in facilities across the country.

The decision comes after too many reports of abuse and failures of care in aged residential facilities, and will no doubt be a lengthy investigation.

It sparks many questions, including federal government funding cuts to aged care in the last couple of years, which local carers tell us have put pressure on staff to resident ratios. But more importantly, it beckons to ask how we, everyday Australians, value and take care of the elderly.

Sitting down in 86-year-old Brian’s living room, he tells me he doesn’t get many visitors; it’s a common theme and makes the fact that loneliness is a serious issue among the elderly sadly, less surprising.

How we treat our elders extends beyond aged care; it’s those simple acts we all so often seem to forget in the busyness of life, like picking up the phone or popping into visit our aged relatives or the elderly in the community.

Ageing is an inevitable part of life and, there’s a high chance you and I - if we’re lucky - will one day be considered ‘elderly’ too. So, why then is it that we tend to undervalue our elders?

They were the ones who once raised us and have contributed the most to society, yet somehow our culture forgets to return that same care and respect later on.

Elderly life can be stressful; your body and mind might not work how they used to and you may be losing friends and loved ones. Imagine then the challenges without basic support.

We’re all human and by taking more time to consider our elders’ needs, we can make a positive difference. There seem to be plenty of services out there for young people, but fewer for the elderly. Think about ways to create activities or groups, or volunteer to existing services in your area.

Aged care facilities often tell us people are scared to visit, but I challenge you to go during morning tea and not be amazed by the bright and friendly places they are, full of people with amazing stores to tell. 

A conversation can start with a cuppa; reach out to someone aged in the community, we can all do with a little more love.