THE federal government has slapped sanctions on a Melbourne nursing home after it was found the home posed a serious risk to its residents.

Latrobe Private Nursing Home had problems in all four accreditation standards under the Department of Health and Ageing's Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.

Assessors identified concerns with up to 30 out of 44 expected outcomes at the 30-bed high-care facility in Alphington, in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

Problems identified by the department include residents being unable to summon assistance, insufficient staff with the appropriate skills to meet care needs, inadequate meals, wounds not attended to and an unsafe physical environment.

Six staff were identified as not having the required police checks.

The assessors also found medication was not being managed appropriately, the home failed to report assaults within the required 24-hour period and doors and gates to evacuation points were locked and the keys could not be found.

Two unannounced visits were conducted in mid-October, followed by a comprehensive review at the end of the month.

The visits followed a number of complaints to the department's Ageing Complaints Investigation Scheme.

The department will revoke the home's status unless it appoints an administrator with the proper skills and qualifications for six months.

An accreditation officer will also visit the home each day and commonwealth subsidies for new residents will be removed for the next six months.

The sanctions will run until April next year.

Ageing Minister Justine Elliot said the care and welfare of residents was the government's primary concern.

"There are nearly 3,000 nursing homes in Australia and the vast majority are doing an excellent job providing quality care for older Australians, but when action is required this government will move swiftly,'' she said.

"Nursing home operators have a legal and moral obligation to provide proper care for nursing home residents.''

There are 14 nursing homes under sanction at the moment, out of a total of nearly 3,000 aged care homes around the country.

This follows the forced closure of Bridgewater Aged Care Facility, which was put into liquidation last month.

Source: AAP