Promises about taxes, healthcare, education, climate change and infrastructure have all had a moment in the sun over the past several weeks.

Unfortunately, aged care is something that has received few pre-election promises.

Despite an eleventh hour announcement from Labor last Sunday outlining an uncosted plan for aged care, little has been said by either side of government.

No matter what side of politics you stand, I think we can all agree that older Australians should receive the care and support they need to age safely, happily and with dignity.

Sadly, this is not the case for everyone today.

Granted, we have seen some action for improvement in recent months.

There have been more home care packages released, though not nearly enough, and a one-off cash injection into residential care that will temporarily assist with surging funding pressures.

Various pre-election promises have also been made about dental care for pensioners and the introduction of an aged care workforce research centre.

Now on election day, I say to every candidate in the running that as soon as the dust has settled and the final votes tallied, we need to see more.

More for aged care.

We need immediate action on what we already know requires our urgent attention.

And what is it that we already know?

We know that 1.3 million Australians access aged care services today.

We know that this figure is projected to increase to 3.5 million by 2050.

We know that approximately 500 Australians are turning 80 each week, the average age for entry into home care.

And we know by 2027, that figure will be 1500 a week.

Australia's ageing population is growing and will continue to do so exponentially, blowing out aged care costs that the current system simply can't sustain.

Despite overall funding for aged care increasing each year, it is not even close to keeping pace with rising costs and the growing needs of older Australians - so in reality it is a cut to funding - no matter the spin put on it.

In residential care alone, more than 40 per cent of providers are reporting financial losses.

We all need to recognise the gravity of the mounting need for quality aged care in this country.

The "lucky" country. It's been said many times that how we treat our vulnerable seniors is a reflection on who we are as a nation.

Let's not look back at this moment in time and realise there's more we could have done.

There are more than 127,000 people right now waiting on the national prioritisation queue for a home care package at their assessed level.

Many of these people, aged in their late 80s and 90s, will be waiting anywhere between one to two years for a home care package they've already been approved for.

Once they receive a package, more than 60 per cent of those recipients will get support below what they were assessed for and actually need. Crazy right?

This year is shaping up to be a year of intense reflection on how Australia has come to care for its oldest citizens.

It's also a time for the Government, and all Australians, to think deeply about how we value and care for the people who raised us and built our nation.

Aged care employees around the country work extraordinarily hard, day in and day out, to provide the best quality care possible to older Australians.

They pour love, passion and sheer determination into caring for our loved ones, and I think it's only fair we show the same level of determination to improve the system.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to change the course of how we will all live out our days.

What we choose to change for today's aged care system, will not only improve the lives of our grandparents and parents in care right now, but also our own lives and those of our children, grandchildren and beyond.

Aged care is relevant to us all.

We will all reach a point in our lives when we will require support or assistance.

At this time, we'll expect to receive the best possible care, delivered with respect, dignity and compassion.

I know I will.

Patrick Reid is the CEO of the IRT Group

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