Australia — The
Democrats are today calling on the Government to ensure
sensible funding provisions in the Budget to provide
suitable accommodation for the six thousand young people
currently housed in old aged nursing homes.
Australian Democrats Disability
spokesperson, Senator Brian Greig, says providing proper
accommodation for young people with disabilities would
automatically free up beds in nursing homes while at the
same time alleviating the problems of old-aged people
permanently occupying hospital beds.
"There has been much talk about
aged care being well provided for in this Budget, but we
have to also address the problem of young people with
severe disabilities being wrongly housed in aged care
facilities," Senator Greig said.
"The needs of young people and
people with disabilities are very different to older and
frail Australians, in terms of physiotherapy,
occupational therapy and stimulating
activities.
"Once a young person is committed
to living in aged care facilities, that's the end of any
specific care or physiotherapy," Senator Greig
said.
"Young people in nursing homes are
kept in a 'holding pattern' of care, sometimes for many,
many years."
Senator Greig says young people,
caught between the federal aged care system and State
disability services are entitled to action under the
Commonwealth-State/Territory Disability Agreement
(CSTDA).
"The Government promised strategies
in the CSTDA to address this issue, and now that all
bilateral agreements have been signed, there is no longer
any excuse for procrastination," Senator Greig
said.
