Aged care stories will be difficult: Wyatt

Stories and events to be recounted at the royal commission into aged care will not be easy to hear, federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says.

As witness hearings opened in Adelaide on Monday, Mr Wyatt said the inquiry came amid a 177 per cent increase in findings of serious risk against service providers in the past year.

"Over the coming days and weeks the stories and events told before the commission will not be easy to hear, but they are necessary," Mr Wyatt said.

"Our senior Australians are among our greatest treasures. They deserve the highest quality aged care possible."

Mr Wyatt said the federal government remained committed to providing senior Australians with access to care which supported their dignity.

He said the opening of the royal commission would be remembered as a highly significant day for aged care in Australia.