From Hospital to Home: Solutions for Australia’s Seniors

Australia’s hospital and aged care systems are under serious strain, with thousands of seniors stuck in hospitals due to delays in residential care and home support services. Experts argue that blaming providers or policies isn’t helping—urgent systemic reform is needed to keep seniors healthy and out of hospital. A key issue is the slow rollout of home care packages (SaH) and uncertainty around residential aged care approvals, which discourages investment in new facilities. Rising construction costs and unclear government policies, including delays in the Accommodation Supplement, make it harder for providers to expand capacity.

Leaders emphasize that seniors are more likely to be hospitalized from the community than from residential care, so supporting home-based care is crucial. Practical solutions include rapid 48-hour discharge pathways, pre-admission planning, surge pools of home care hours, and transparent metrics showing hospital-to-service transfer times. Measuring success by reduced hospital stays, faster discharges, and safe care at home—not just the number of packages—can drive meaningful change.

Ultimately, the focus must shift to collaborative, pre-emptive strategies that prioritize seniors’ well-being and independence. Hospitals should become temporary stops, not permanent stays, while home care and residential services are strengthened to protect dignity, reduce strain, and improve outcomes.

HelloLeaders. (2025, September 17). Stop gaslighting aged care: Patients aren’t the problem, rationing and red tape are. https://helloleaders.com.au/article/stop-gaslighting-aged-care-patients-arent-the-problem-rationing-and-red-tape-are?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hello-leaders-newsletter-17-09-2025