A new study has found nursing home staff feel they do not get enough training and are overworked.

Nearly 30 per cent also report they have been touched in a sexually inappropriate way by residents.

Australian National University (ANU) researcher Tony Schumacher Jones says the community has focussed on the plight of the elderly.

But he says it is time to also consider the needs of carers.

"You can with a Certificate III in aged care, you can get paid $11.40 an hour," he said.

"Anecdotally, talking to carers, some report that they're paid less than that - $9 and $10 an hour.

"How much money we receive working is actually crucial to our self-esteem and how we think society values us."

ABC News