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We’re passionate about stopping young people with disability from being forced into residential aged care, by helping them access the support needed to be in control of where, how and with whom they live.
Research helps us understand the pathways for young people in aged care and provide the evidence needed to create systems change to solve this problem.
Our research team consists of academics and clinicians working on over 20 projects across the disability, health, and housing sectors, and collaborating with universities and government. These findings are regularly published in reports, conferences, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Today in Australia, 2,934 young people with disability under 65 years of age are forced to live in aged care. The issue is complex and crosses multiple settings and sectors, including hospitals, housing, disability and primary health.
Young people end up in aged care when disability and health services don’t work together in a timely way. Some of these people are aged in their 30s and 40s, living with people in their 80s. They rarely see family or friends and it is common for young people in aged care to lose skills and independence.
UpSkill is a Summer Foundation program that offers training and resources for NDIS professionals assisting people with complex support needs including young people living in aged care.
Kate was 34 when she went to live in aged care. She was there for 15 months.
“You might make a friend or acquaintance, but the next week they’re dead. A 21-year-old should not be losing the people around them like that.”
Andrew was told:
“You are an Aboriginal man, you have a degenerative disease, you may as well continue in a system you are going to end up in.”
