The failures of Adelaide's Oakden nursing home, which in part sparked the royal commission into Australia's aged care system, will be front and centre when hearings open in Adelaide.
One of the Oakden whistleblowers, Barbara Spriggs, whose husband Bob was overmedicated and mistreated at the home leading up to his death, is expected to be the first to give evidence on Monday.
Ms Spriggs will be asked to relate her family's direct experience with Oakden and with the wider aged care system.
Her son Clive is listed to follow her in the witness box before the commission hears from a series of advocacy and medical groups.
One of those, Aged and Community Services Australia, says the investigation will shine a light on many complex challenges and issues within the system that have long gone undiscussed.
Chief executive Patricia Sparrow says it's been hard for many people to talk about ageing.
"But that's what we need to do as a nation if we are going to improve the system and make it sustainable into the future," she said.
"The royal commission will be important in going right back to the beginning and examining what kind of system we need and how to make that possible."
The inquiry's initial focus will be on how aged care has been operated, monitored and regulated and how that may change under the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
The commission will also consider the changing demographics of the Australian population and the implications this has for the system.
Advocacy and medical groups will detail the current state of the aged care system along with the clinical issues affecting elderly people and general challenges in meeting clinical needs.
Australian Associated Press
