Wait times and choice remain key issues
OPAN’s fifth issues report shows network members managed over 13,000 advocacy cases in 2024-25 with over 5,000 related to home care packages and a similar number about accessing aged care.
Long wait times for assessments and home care, poor communication and a lack of support for older people to make decisions about their own care remain the top challenges in aged care, according to the latest report from the Older Persons Advocacy Network.
These recurring issues show that systemic barriers remain entrenched – despite the reforms underway – and continue to limit older people’s rights, said the peak body for aged care consumers.
OPAN’s fifth National Aged Care Advocacy Program Presenting Issues Report (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) was released on Tuesday, the same day Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae announced the progress to date on the rollout of new home care packages (6,665 as of 6 October).
The report should play a pivotal role in informing policymaking and reform in the aged care sector, said OPAN chief executive officer Craig Gear.
“This is a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done to ensure some of the most vulnerable in the community are afforded adequate rights and protections,” Mr Gear said.
Support instances up 18 per cent
The 96-page report shows network members provided 52,206 instances of advocacy and information support in 2024-25. That’s up 18 per cent since 2023-24 and much more than the 3.28 per cent increase in the aged care population in the same period.
The top two issue categories this past year were service delivery and accessing aged care – which is the same as in 2023-24 but the proportion of advocacy cases relating to accessing aged care increased by 23 per cent over that period.
Of the 13,486 cases highlighted in the report:
- 42 per cent (5,654 cases) related to Home Care Packages
- 41 per cent (5,50 cases) related to service delivery
- 39 per cent (5,299 cases) related to accessing aged care
- 24 per cent (3,259 cases) related to the Commonwealth Home Support Program
- 22 per cent (2,970 cases) related to residential aged care
- 18 per cent (2,428 cases) related to financial issues.
Network members provided 3,352 information (2,707) and advocacy (645) services relating to abuse of older people by people other than aged care workers, comprising 6 per cent of all services they provided.
“It is deeply concerning that the same issues keep surfacing year after year. Older people tell us they are still waiting too long for care, not getting clear information, and being excluded from decisions that affect their lives,” Mr Gear said.
“Home Care Packages continue to be a major area of concern for older Australians. The proportion of advocacy cases relating to them is two times higher than expected given that Home Care Package recipients comprise only 21 per cent of the total aged care population.
“Breaches of older people’s human rights across their aged care journey continued to be a dominant theme. Day-to-day breaches show that ageist and ableist attitudes persist throughout the system, which is unfair and unjust,” he said.
Report makes 59 recommendations
In addition to issues impacting the sector, OPAN makes 59 recommendations in the report to improve the aged care journey for older people. As many of the top issues in 2025 were also raised 2023 and 2024, more than half of the recommendations (34) are carried over from the 2023 and 2024 reports.
Among the new recommendations, the report calls for clear guidance to older people and their supporters on how to lodge complaints about breaches of their rights, and targeted education for aged care providers on understanding older people’s decision-making rights.
The 59 recommendations span multiple categories including:
- older people’s rights (7)
- workforce (5)
- accessing aged care (16)
- service availability (8)
- service delivery (9)
- financial issues (11).
Mr Gear said the series of recommendations would help address and alleviate the identified challenges.
“The new Aged Care Act on 1 November is an important new chapter and an opportune time to reflect on how the government and sector can work collaboratively to improve the quality of life for older Australians.”
Access the report: Presenting Issues Report 2024-25
Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.
