"They took care of my mother when I spoke to politicians" says Greek-Australian who almost lost her mum to Covid-19

A woman whose mother contracted COVID-19 in a Melbourne aged care home says the sector needs a complete overhaul to address its systemic faults, and has called on the government to "stop promising and start doing".

Serafia Pateritsas with her daughter, Elizabeth. Source: Supplied

Elizabeth Pateritsas’ mother Serafia contracted the virus at Benetas St George’s nursing home in the suburb of Altona Meadows in August.

But Ms Pateritsas said the shocking neglect of her 80-year-old mother started long before the pandemic took hold.

Serafia Pateritsas and her husband Source: SBS News

There have been more than 300 aged care deaths in Victoria linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A royal commission into the sector has heard claims staff were ill-prepared for the crisis and that there was a critical shortage in personal protective equipment in homes.