The number of young people living in residential aged care is set to be reduced with the release of a new strategy to help younger people find age-appropriate accommodation and the supports needed to allow them to live independently in the community.
Announced by the Ministers for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and for Aged Care and Senior Australians, the Younger People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) Strategy 2020-2025 charts a course to meet targets released in March 2019.
Minister for NDIS, Stuart Robert said the YPIRAC targets sought to ensure there were no people under the age of 65 entering residential aged care by 2022; no people under the age of 45 living in residential aged care by 2022; and no people under the age of 65 living in residential aged care by 2025.
“The experiences and needs of younger people living in residential aged care, their families and carers, are central to this strategy,” Mr Robert said.
“It recognises and prioritises the rights of younger people to determine where and how they choose to live,” he said.
“Priority areas of work have been co-designed with key stakeholders, with input from State and Territory Governments.”
Mr Robert said the priority areas included supporting greater choice and control; improving pathways and linkages across the disability, aged care, housing and health systems; and providing age-appropriate accommodation and ongoing support options.
“Under the NDIS, we have seen significant progress in reducing the number of participants in residential aged care,” he said.
The 17-page YPIRAC Strategy 2020-2025 can be accessed on the Department of Social Services’ website at this PS News link.
