Fewer young people in aged care homes

There’s been a 20 per cent drop in the number of young Australians living in residential aged care, a new government report shows. But there’s still a long way to go to improve outcomes for this cohort, advocacy group Summer Foundation tells Australian Ageing Agenda.

The latest Younger people in residential care report, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare this week, says that at September 2021 there were 3,670 people under 65 in aged care facilities, compared to 4,600 the previous year, a 20 per cent drop. The number of people aged under 45 has also seen a drop from 120 to 91.

From July to September 2021 a total of 151 people under 65 were admitted to permanent residential aged care, a 30 per cent decrease over 12 months. The decrease in people entering care resulted in lower overall numbers, the AIHW says. Numbers decreased across every state and territory between 2020 and 2021.

Most younger people in residential aged care (59 per cent) are currently aged between 60 and 64. Almost 40 per cent are aged 45-59 and 2 per cent are under 44.

‘Response inadequate’

The report tracks the annual progress of the targets set out in the government’s Younger People in Residential Aged Care Strategy 2020-25. The strategy, which responds to recommendations of the aged care royal commission, aims to have no one under 45 living in residential aged care by 2022 and no one younger than 65 in aged care homes by 2025.

“The goal of the strategy is to reduce the number of younger people entering residential aged care and support those already living in residential aged care to move into age-appropriate accommodation with the supports they need,” said AIHW spokesperson Louise York in a statement.

However, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to achieve these targets, says Amelia Condi, head of government relations and policy at Summer Foundation.

“Whilst the numbers have reduced over the past year, good outcomes for younger people are far from being achieved. From July to September 2021, 151 younger people entered aged care and 189 exited.

“However, 138 of those who exited were younger people who sadly passed away. Others will have aged out this cohort. This is not success or an adequate response to supporting younger people in aged care,” Ms Condi told AAA.

Building the capacity of younger people about their available housing options is critical as is the need for the National Disability Insurance Agency to make more timely decisions about funding to enable younger people to access more appropriate housing, she said.

The Housing Hub, which is an initiative of Summer Foundation, has listings for 800 vacancies in newly built Specialist Disability Accommodation and vacancies in many more accessible properties, Ms Condi said. “Funding to access housing and supports which enable people with disability to live independently are urgently needed.”

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