Who Lives in Aged Care and Why? Australian Facts and Figures (2026)

When families start thinking about aged care, many wonder who actually lives in an aged care home. Is it mostly people in their nineties? Are most residents women? Why do people move in when they do? Understanding who lives in aged care, and why, helps families see that they are far from alone, and that the decision is usually about care needs rather than age alone.

This guide uses the latest national data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), published through its GEN Aged Care Data website, to explain who uses aged care in Australia, the care needs that lead people to residential care, and how the picture has changed in recent years. The figures cover 30 June 2025, the most recent full year of data, which was collected before the Aged Care Act 2024 began on 1 November 2025.

196,000

people living in permanent residential aged care

66%

of permanent residents are women

59%

of permanent residents are aged 85 and over

85

median age when moving into residential care

Source: AIHW GEN Aged Care Data, at 30 June 2025 or 2024-25.

How Many People Use Aged Care in Australia?

Aged care in Australia is much bigger than aged care homes alone. According to AIHW GEN data, in 2024-25 about 839,000 people received help through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. On 30 June 2025, a further 293,000 people were using home care, 204,000 people were using permanent or respite residential care, and 5,700 people were using transition care or short-term restorative care.

So while around 196,000 people lived permanently in aged care homes, most older Australians who use aged care are supported in their own homes. Residential care is usually the last step in a journey that often starts with a little help around the house, such as cleaning or transport, then grows to regular personal care and nursing at home before a move into a home becomes the safest option. Our guide to ageing in place vs residential care explains how families decide when to make that step.

Who Lives in Aged Care? Mostly Women

Around 2 in 3 people using aged care services are women.

The AIHW reports that home care and permanent residential care have the highest share of women, with both at 66% women and 34% men. The split is closer in respite residential care and transition care, at 60% women and 40% men.

The main reason is life expectancy. Women live longer than men on average, so there are more women at the oldest ages, when care needs are greatest. Many women also outlive a partner who was helping them at home, which can make residential care more likely. For some men, the opposite applies: a wife or partner may be able to provide care at home for longer, which can delay the need for residential care.

How Old Are People in Aged Care?

People in aged care homes tend to be much older than people using support at home. The share aged 85 and over in each type of care tells the story:

Permanent residential care

59%

Home care

41%

Home support

29%

Share of people aged 85 and over, by type of care, 30 June 2025. Source: AIHW GEN.

The AIHW’s admissions data shows the median age at admission in 2024-25 was 85 for both permanent and respite residential care, 82 for transition care and 81 for home care.

There are also differences between men and women. Almost 2 in 3 women in permanent residential care (64%) are aged 85 and over, compared with around half of men (49%). Men are more common in the younger age groups, making up 54% of people under 65 in permanent residential care.

Very few younger people live in aged care homes. At 30 June 2025, 0.6% of people in permanent residential care, or about 1,100 people, were aged under 65. The Australian Government has committed to no people under 65 living in residential aged care except in exceptional circumstances. Our guide to younger people in residential aged care covers this in more detail.

Why Do People Go Into Aged Care?

The AIHW describes permanent residential care as 24-hour care and accommodation for older people who can no longer live independently at home and need help with everyday tasks and health care. In other words, people move into aged care because of their care needs, not simply because they reach a certain age.

Eligibility is based on assessed need. Anyone moving into a government-funded aged care home must first be approved through an aged care needs assessment. The common reasons families seek residential care include:

Mobility and falls

Needing help to walk, transfer or move safely around the home.

Daily living

Needing help with showering, dressing, eating or continence.

Complex health needs

Chronic conditions, medications or wound care that need nursing oversight.

Memory and thinking

Changes that make it unsafe to live alone without supervision.

Carer can no longer cope

A spouse or family member who can no longer safely provide the care needed.

After a hospital stay

When returning home is no longer safe after an illness or injury.

The Care Needs of People in Aged Care Homes

Every permanent resident has an Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment, which sets the government funding for their care. The AIHW’s care needs data shows that almost everyone in an aged care home needs help to move around.

98%need mobility support

55% assisted mobility

42% not mobile

2.1% independent mobility

People in permanent residential care by AN-ACC mobility category, 30 June 2025. Source: AIHW GEN.

Around 260 people, or 0.1%, entered care in the palliative category, meaning they moved in specifically to receive planned end-of-life care. The most common AN-ACC classification was Class 5, which describes people with assisted mobility, higher cognitive ability and compounding factors, at 18% of residents.

Care needs on entry have also risen over time. Older AIHW data based on the previous funding tool shows that between 2012-13 and 2021-22, the share of people assessed with high care needs for daily living when first entering permanent care rose from 36% to 58%. People are generally staying at home for longer with support, then moving into residential care when their needs are higher. This is one reason aged care homes now meet care minutes targets and a Registered Nurse on site around the clock.

Who Uses Respite in Aged Care Homes?

Not everyone in an aged care home lives there permanently. Respite residential care offers short stays, usually so a family carer can take a break or recover from illness, or so an older person can try residential life before deciding on a permanent move.

The respite group looks a little different from permanent residents. The AIHW reports that respite residential care has one of the closest gender splits of any care type, at 60% women and 40% men. It also has a higher share of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, with 25% born in non-English-speaking countries.

For many families, respite is the first real experience of aged care. It can show that residential care is less daunting than expected, and it gives staff the chance to get to know a person’s routines before any longer stay. Our guide to emergency respite care explains what to do when a carer suddenly cannot continue.

How Aged Care Use Has Changed

Home care users

71,900 → 293,000

2017 to 2025, a 307% increase

Permanent residential care

179,000 → 196,000

2017 to 2025, a 9.9% increase

These figures show a clear shift towards care at home. The number of people using home care more than quadrupled between 2017 and 2025, while permanent residential care grew far more slowly. In fact, after allowing for population growth, the rate of people aged 65 and over in permanent residential care fell by 10%, from 46 to 41 per 1,000 people.

At the same time, Australia’s population of people aged 65 and over grew by 26% over the same period, compared with 14% for the population as a whole. More older Australians means more demand for every kind of aged care, which is reflected in long waiting times. Our guide to aged care waiting lists in Queensland explains current waits.

Who Lives in Aged Care: A Diverse Community

People in aged care come from many backgrounds. At 30 June 2025, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 2.7% of people using mainstream aged care. First Nations people can access aged care from age 50, and the AIHW reports that they tend to enter care around a decade earlier, with a median age of 75 for permanent residential care.

Cultural and language diversity is also significant. In respite residential care, 25% of people were born in non-English-speaking countries, and 11% preferred to speak a language other than English. The ABS 2021 Census found that 35% of Australians aged 65 and over were born overseas.

Where people live matters too. Two-thirds of older Australians (66%) live in metropolitan areas, where most aged care homes are located. People in remote areas may need to move closer to larger centres to access residential care.

What Daily Life Looks Like for Residents

Behind the numbers are people with their own histories, routines and preferences. While every home is different, life for most residents revolves around personal care, meals, health care and social connection.

Because most residents need help with mobility and daily living, care staff are involved throughout the day, from helping people get up and showered in the morning to settling them at night. Registered Nurses oversee clinical care, medications and changes in health. Lifestyle programs, visits from family and friends, and time outdoors all help residents stay connected. Our guide to a day in the life of an aged care facility gives a closer look.

What These Figures Mean for Families

You are not alone

Around 196,000 Australians call an aged care home their home, and many more families are weighing up the same decision.

It is about needs, not age

The right time depends on care needs and safety, not on reaching a particular birthday.

Plan before a crisis

Because people now move in with higher needs, getting an assessment early keeps options open.

Considering Aged Care for Someone You Love?

Superior Care Group is a family-owned residential aged care provider that has cared for older Queenslanders for over 45 years. At Wellington Park in Wellington Point and Merrimac Park on the Gold Coast, we offer permanent care, respite care and palliative care, with Registered Nurses on site around the clock. If you are starting to think about aged care, our guide to the aged care assessment is a good first step, and our team is glad to answer your questions.

Talk to our team

Choose the residence nearest your family.

Wellington Park, Wellington Point · (07) 3822 1876Merrimac Park, Gold Coast · (07) 5618 1111Or send an enquiry online

Sources: AIHW GEN: People using aged care · AIHW GEN: People’s care needs in aged care · AIHW GEN: Admissions into aged care. Data at 30 June 2025 or for 2024-25.