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Young people will still be admitted to nursing homes without investment in new accommodation options, despite the 5-year national initiative to move them out.

A new report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Younger people with disability in residential aged care 2010-11) shows that more than 200 people under 50 are at risk of admission to aged care nursing homes each year in Australia. Although the $244m Younger People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) program (2006-2011) made a tremendous difference for those people who received funding to stop them either going into a nursing home or enabled them to move out, since this program ended, the system has largely begun reverting to the way things were in the past, with young people once again at risk of placement in nursing homes.

There are still over 600 people under 50 living in nursing homes. They are effectively excluded from society, with 82% never going out to visit their friends and 53% receiving a visit from a friend less than once per year. Nearly half never go on trips to the shops or the movies or sports events.

Research by the Summer Foundation and Monash University found that those who moved out of nursing homes experienced marked improvements in their quality of life, as well as opportunities to make everyday choices and participate in daily activities.

“It is clear that the National Disability Insurance Scheme is absolutely vital to help this group live in the community and maximise their independence,” said Summer Foundation CEO Dr Di Winkler, “However, two other elements are required to resolve the issue of young people in nursing homes. More innovative accommodation services must be built, and the Government must establish services that prevent new admissions to aged care nursing homes and create pathways back to community living.”

The Federal Government has today released the Productivity Commission's report into Disability Care and Support.

In a media conference today, the Prime Minister announced that $10 million would be allocated immediately to begin on the road to a National Disability Insurance Scheme, which could take around 7 years to be fully implemented.

The Summer Foundation welcomes this progressive reform and the opportunity provided to stop the flow of young people into nursing homes, supporting their choices about where to live and whom to live with, realising their potential and enabling them to maintain their roles as mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters and sons.

You can view the Prime Minister's Media Release here

Click here to view the Summer Foundation's Media Release

Click here to go to the Productivity Commission web page for access to the reports or download below.

Today the Summer Foundation and Monash University have released a White Paper on young people in nursing homes that summarises recent research regarding the social inclusion of young people in nursing homes, and further outlines the policy and practical challenges related to this issue.

Although those who received services through the recently-ended national YPIRAC program will continue to receive these disability supports, there are a great many others whose needs have not been met. There will be no new support packages for the 200 people under 50 who are admitted to aged care each year in Australia. In addition, there are also many people in their fifties who have significant potential but are still languishing in nursing homes. 

Whilst the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers some hope for young people in nursing homes, it is yet to be adopted by Government and requires the support of the Australian community to become a reality.