The independent senator told the ABC: There must be an urgent Senate inquiry into the whole issue of aged care funding instruments and also the whole issue of elder abuse because it seems that there arent adequate legal protections in place.
He also warned the Governments $1.2 billion in funding cuts will lead to an increase in reports of elder abuse.
Mr Xenophons response came after the ABCs 7:30 program aired hidden camera footage of a carer at an Adelaide home that appeared to show him trying to suffocate an 89-year-old dementia sufferer.
The carer Corey Lyle Lucas, 27, ended up pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, but served just three weeks in jail to the anger of the mans daughter who set up the camera.