The number of over-90s brought to A&E by ambulance in England has risen by 81% in the past three years, figures highlighted by Labour show.
There were just over 300,370 trips in 2012-13 compared to 165,910 in 2009-10, the data shows.
Labour said the jump was linked to the cuts in social care budgets, which have led to the elderly not getting the support they need to stay healthy.
But ministers said the problem dated back well into Labour's term in office.
Continue reading the main storyThe figures being highlighted by Labour are drawn from official data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
Overall, 999 trips to A&Es rose by 11% over the period to just under 4.4 million.
But by far the largest rise was in the eldest age group, the Labour analysis showed.
End Quote Jeremy Hunt Health SecretaryLabour's disastrous 2004 GP contract left many vulnerable elderly patients without good out of hours care, so it's rank hypocrisy for them now to complain about the consequences of their historic mistake"
Some of this rise is related to the ageing population - the number of over-90s went up by 17% over the period.
But shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the fact the rise was outstripping the population change by so much suggested a large part of it had to be related to the situation with social care.
He cited research from the London School of Economics that showed the numbers getting social care support had fallen by nearly 500,000 since 2008.
Poor experiencesMr Burnham said: "The government's severe cuts to social care have left thousands of older people without the support they need - at risk of going into hospital and getting trapped there.
"It is appalling to think that, every week, there are thousands of frail and frightened people speeding through our towns and cities in the backs of ambulances to be left in a busy A&E.
"This is often the worst place for them to be and a disorientating experience that can cause real distress. With proper support in the home, this could all be avoided."
Dr Cliff Mann, of the College of Emergency Medicine, agreed the "lack of good care" in the community was a key factor.
He added the ambulance journeys for such elderly patients resulted in "poor experiences for patients, unnecessary concern for relatives and increases in bed pressures".
But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Labour's disastrous 2004 GP contract left many vulnerable elderly patients without good out of hours care, so it's rank hypocrisy for them now to complain about the consequences of their historic mistake.
"We have ripped up that contract and are bringing back proper family doctoring, with named GPs for older people to help relieve A&E pressures."
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