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National Alliance of Young People in Nursing Homes (YPINH)
Posted by DAIS on Jul 05 2006
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National Alliance of Young People in Nursing Homes
Every day, a young person with high or complex care needs is placed in an aged care facility somewhere in Australia because the accommodation and support they need does not exist. Some of these individuals are younger than 10 years of age. At the current rate of entry there will be over 10,000 young people residing in aged care facilities by 2007. These young people have a variety of acquired disabilities. Many have sustained catastrophic injuries in situations where compensation isn't available. Some have developed degenerative neurological diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and Muscular Dystrophy.

The National Alliance of Young People in Nursing Homes (YPINH) does not believe aged care settings are an appropriate option for younger people with disabilities. Yet they are often the only option available to young people with high or complex needs.

The National Alliance recently succeeded in getting the Young People In Nursing Homes issue listed for discussion on COAG's (Council of Australian Governments) June 3 meeting agenda. The result of that meeting was a landmark decision by both the Commonwealth and the States to accept joint responsibility for fixing the longstanding problem; and an agreement to work in partnership to develop joint solutions around accommodation and service delivery that young people and their families want. This agreement also extends to an acceptance by both levels of government that joint funding arrangements need to be part of any partnership solution.

As the first step in developing the community based supported accommodation services young people need, a 6-month investigation is now underway to look at what can be done as part of these joint arrangements. Managed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, this investigation is an intergovernmental process with no opportunity for consultation with YPINH and their families, the sector or the community at large. The investigation's report will be delivered on December 21 2005.

This is a once-in-a-generation chance to get dedicated government responses YPINH and their families have long been fighting for. But the report's timing just before the Christmas break means that State and Federal Governments will not begin negotiating on the funding needed to progress matters until February 2006 at the earliest. Even if negotiations are completed speedily, the delivery of any practical responses is at risk because proposals will miss State and Federal budget deadlines for the 2006/07 financial year.

If this happens, another year will be lost before the 2007/08 State and Federal budgets can deliver the funds needed to develop accommodation and services, a year in which more young people will be placed in nursing homes because there is nowhere else for them to go.

The Alliance aims to run stories in local, state and national media that highlight the urgent need for action and a joint response from both tiers of government. The National Alliance is keen to speak with young people living in aged care facilities as well as those at risk of placement there in the future, about what they want, where they want to live and how they would like to be supported.

The Alliance can be contacted on 03 9482 5655, by email at info@ypinh.org.au or visit the website at www.ypinh.org.au for a list of contacts in every state and territory.

Source: YPINH website

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