The families of aged care residents are becoming demanding and aggressive, with some unwilling to accept their loved one is dying, an inquiry has been told.

The aged care royal commission has heard evidence about the importance of family involvement, but some nursing practitioners say dealing with relatives can be one of the most challenging parts of their work.

Nurse practitioner Sandy Green says family behaviour has dramatically changed since the 1997 introduction of accommodation bonds, which are paid when people go into residential aged care.

“I have experienced and observed family members becoming verbally aggressive, demanding, threatening and unrealistic towards nursing staff and medical teams in their expectations of their family member’s current health conditions,” she said in a statement to the commission.