Doctors' inaugural Aged Care Report Card reveals "failures" across the sector

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has released its inaugural Aged Care Report Card 2026, which it says warns that aged care “failures” are “fuelling hospital logjam”. Key findings from the report include an increase from 286,050 in 2020–21 to 460,122 in 2023–24 of hospital patient days used by people eligible and waiting for residential aged care, which constitutes an increase of more than 60% in three years.

Additionally, between 2018–19 and 2024–25, the median wait for an aged care assessment was found to have more than doubled nationally, while one in 10 people entering residential aged care after approval were found to have waited more than three and a half years to do so.

“This report card makes clear that aged care is not separate from health care,” AMA President Danielle McMullen said. “It is a critical part of our health system, and when it does not work, the consequences are felt right across the country.

“Too many older Australians are spending days, weeks or longer in hospital after they have been medically cleared to leave, simply because the care they need is not available. This is not good care. It is not dignified for patients, it is not sustainable for hospitals, and it is not an efficient use of scarce health resources.”

Delays throughout the aged care pathway were contributing to the hospital logjam, McMullen said, reducing the availability of acute beds and making it harder for patients to access timely treatment. “We cannot clear the hospital logjam while ignoring what happens beyond the hospital doors,” McMullen said. “Fixing aged care is essential to fixing our hospitals.

“All governments need to come together and come up with a concrete plan for transitioning patients out to community and into residential care when needed through the National Health Reform Agreement.”

To track whether governments are delivering measurable improvements for older Australians and the broader health system, AMA said its report card will be published annually. “Older Australians deserve safe, appropriate and dignified care when and where they need it,” McMullen said. “This report card will help ensure governments are held accountable for delivering it.”

You can read the report at www.ama.com.au/resource?resource=327.

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