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People
- Approximately 2/3 of
younger nursing home residents have a
degenerative neurological disease (MS,
Parkinson’s, Motor Neurone Disease) or
other physical disability
- 1/3 have an acquired
brain injury
- One third of younger
nursing home residents with MS suffer
depression.
- Only 11% ever get
treatment
Impact on the Health
system
- Younger people in nursing
homes block beds for older people in aged care
facilities, causing upstream blockages in acute
hospital beds
- 300 young people in
nursing homes mean longer hospital waiting
lists
- It has been estimated
that in Victoria alone 500 hospital beds are
blocked by older people seeking nursing home
placement
Numbers
- 4.5% of all nursing home
residents are under 65
- Per head of population,
you are one and a half times more likely to end
up in a nursing home in Australia than in
America if you acquire a disability as a young
person
- Residents under 50
300 people in Victoria
1200 people nationally
30 people under 25 years of age
Costs
- Commonwealth care subsidy
is $42,500 per annum, compared to $65,000-85,000
that it costs to provide full care
- Younger residents often
have higher support needs than older
residents
- Care resources are being
diverted away from older residents in some
cases
Commonwealth State
Responsibility
- Aged care is a
Commonwealth issue, and disability accommodation
is a State issue.
- The Commonwealth blames
the States, and the States blame the
Commonwealth
- This is a Commonwealth
issue where leadership is required
There are
solutions
- Aged Care growth funds
need to be targeted to areas where new beds can
replace those occupied by younger people. They
can then move to more appropriate housing
provided by the States
- Cyril Jewell House is a
nursing home in Keilor that has a wing for
younger people with MS. It provides a much
needed age appropriate service in the Western
Suburbs of Melbourne.
- The WA Government
successfully moved 100 young people with ABI and
MS out of nursing homes into the community in
1997. Similar projects need to be negotiated in
other states.
- The Commonwealth should
convene a Supported Living Summit to formulate
joint government/community solutions to the
crisis faced by young and old Australians
requiring supported accommodation.
Source MS Australia
Factsheet, It's Wrong Campaign
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The
Physical Disability Council of NSW Inc (PDCN) is
the peak body representing people with physical
disabilities across New South Wales.
PDCN is involved in information, education and
systemic advocacy for, and on behalf of, people
with a physical disability.
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