Australia’s aged care capacity is struggling to keep pace with demand, with Ageing Australia, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners warning that the pressure is increasingly flowing into the wider health system.
An estimated 3,300 older Australians are experiencing delayed hospital discharge, up 35 per cent in a year. Residential aged care also needs around 10,000 new beds annually to meet demand, yet fewer than 1,000 were built in 2025. More than 200,000 people are also waiting for a Support at Home package or assessment.
Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said governments need to expand aged care capacity to help older people remain supported outside hospital. The peak bodies are also calling for greater investment in step-down care, while Palliative Care Australia has highlighted the need for stronger palliative care at home and in residential settings.
Meanwhile, debate is growing over the proposed removal of the private health insurance rebate for Australians aged 65 and over, with Catholic Health Australia warning the change could shift additional pressure onto public hospitals.