24/09/2026
The Australian Medical Association’s inaugural Aged Care Report Card reinforces what we at Juniper have long been seeing: delays in older Australians being able to access care are having a ripple effect across the whole health system.
The AMA Aged Care Report Card, released this week, found:
🕐Older Australians are experiencing significant delays in accessing the aged care services they need, leading to longer stays in hospital after they are medically fit to leave.
🛏️ Hospital bed days used by people waiting for residential aged care increased by more than 60% in just three years, from 286,050 in 2020–21 to 460,122 in 2023‒24.
👩⚕️The median wait time for an aged care assessment has more than doubled since 2018-19.
🗓️ Some older people are waiting more than three and a half years to enter residential aged care after receiving approval.
⛔ Delays across the aged care pathway are affecting both older people and the broader health system by reducing hospital capacity.
These findings reinforce the importance of improving access to home and residential aged care and strengthening coordination between hospitals and aged care providers.
Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell commended the AMA on its report and said addressing bottlenecks in hospitals must remain a priority.
"Older Australians deserve timely access to quality care and support, wherever they live and whatever their needs," Mr Bricknell said.
“This report reminds us of the importance of working with governments and health sector partners to find solutions that improve outcomes for older people and help ensure care is available when it is needed most.”
You can read the AMA’s Aged Care Report Card here https://tinyurl.com/37rwyzdp