One in four say aged care is heading in the wrong direction: report
Ageing Australia’s inaugural Australia Community Expectations Report has found 25% of people believe that aged care is going in the wrong direction.
Worringly, the 60-page Ageing in Australia Community Expectations Report 2026, which surveyed 1,010 Australians aged over 18 in July and August 2025, found nearly half lacked to the knowledge to form an opinion, with 46% saying they “don’t know” if the sector is heading in the right direction.
“The findings reflect the level of uncertainty that exists across the community and suggest the need for clearer narrative about reform, progress and long-term direction,” the report states.
The Ageing Australia survey found 21% of Australians turn to the Government for information about aged care, while nearly three quarters go directly to providers.
Factors involved in ageing well
The report also revealed that Australians place great importance on affordability and access to care.
When asked what changes they would like to see in aged care that would signal progress in the right direction, respondents identified greater affordability, no further changes, a stable workforce that provides patient, sympathetic and loving care, and specialised dementia care.
The survey also highlighted the importance of access to aged care services and affordability in people's perceptions of ageing well.
The top three factors perceived to impact ageing well were:
- access to quality healthcare
- affordable aged care, and
- access to quality aged care.
Aged care staff were was also seen as central to supporting ageing well.
Those supporting a person living with dementia were especially concerned about staff training.
Goalposts shifting when it comes to paying for aged care
Respondents over 50 reacted negatively to the prospect of having to pay more for aged care than previous generations. They felt “the goalposts were shifting on them in an unfair way,” according to the report.
A mix of user pays and taxpayer funding felt fair, but older participants wanted the Government – or taxpayers – to pay as much as possible.
One participant commented: “That’s why you pay taxes. I’ve been paying all my life, so we should get something when we’re older.”
Means testing for aged care was well supported, and nearly two in five supported increased reliance on superannuation to pay for aged care.
More than half (56%) want to stay living at home until they die, but about half aged over 50 are considering downsizing. Only 37% believe the Government is doing enough to help downsizers.
Incentives for downsizing include more affordable housing options, changes that would prevent downsizers from losing pension entitlements, and stamp duty exemptions.
“It is clear that older people want to remain independent, but for some this does not mean remaining in the family home,” said Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson.
“For many it means downsizing, and for almost a third it could mean moving into retirement living.”
“That shows a huge opportunity for our sector to build more homes and offer increasingly innovative housing solutions tailored to older people.”
Ageing Australia says it will repeat the research every two years.
You can download the report here.
