A BALLARAT nursing home facing criminal charges over malnourished residents was dangerously understaffed, unions said.

Distraught relatives returned to Kirralee Residential Aged Care yesterday where 10 residents were found to be dangerously underweight, including two weighing less than 25kg.

The niece of one resident said her aunt was depressed and underfed.

"She has lost the will to live because of this place," said the woman, who asked not to be identified.

Another woman said she had taken food to her mother because she wasn't being fed enough.

"She has lost a lot of weight. I have been over there and fed her because trays of food get left on the bench," said Margaret Barkas, daughter of Mavis Barkas, 88.

The Federal Government has ordered checks on another 31 homes owned by the same company to ensure the welfare of residents.

"This is just unacceptable, what's happening there, and that's why I've taken this immediate action," Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliott said.

The Australian Nursing Federation said only six registered nurses were rostered on a shift to look after 100 residents at Kirralee.

A government-owned facility would require at least 14 staff to look after the same number of residents during the day.

"They are dangerously understaffed," ANF assistant secretary Yvonne Chaperon said.

The Herald Sun yesterday revealed the most severely malnourished were prescribed nutritional supplements, which were placed in their food.

But the home had allegedly failed to ensure they ate their meals.

The case has been referred to Victoria Police for investigation.

Aged Care Services Australia Group released a statement yesterday admitting to problems at the home. "We acknowledge that we can and will do better," executive director Julie Reed said.

But she said the home's failure to meet 33 of 44 basic standards was due to poor documentation, rather than insufficient care.

Source: Herald Sun - Ben Packham and Grant McArthur