In Australia, over 1,000 people with disabilities under the age of 65 remain confined to aged care facilities, a situation described as a “national shame” by disability advocates.
Despite government commitments to eliminate this practice by 2025, missed targets and delays in implementing the new Aged Care Act have left younger Australians with disabilities facing inappropriate living conditions, social isolation, and significant health risks.
The Herald Sun recently highlighted this ongoing crisis, shedding light on the personal toll it takes on individuals like Jessi, a 25-year-old Melbourne woman who faces returning to aged care due to the closure of her supported disability accommodation.
A broken promise
The Australian Government’s Younger People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) Strategy 2020–2025 aimed to ensure no one under 65 would live in aged care by 2025, except in exceptional circumstances.
However, as of 30 September 2024, 1,161 people under 65 were still living in these facilities, a significant reduction from previous years but far from the promised zero.
The government’s failure to meet this target, combined with a delay in the new Aged Care Act from July to November 2025, has perpetuated a system where younger people with disabilities are forced into environments designed for older Australians.
The new Aged Care Act, intended to limit access to government-funded aged care services for those under 65, includes provisions allowing entry for Indigenous people aged 50 and over, or those over 50 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Jessica Walker, a spokesperson for the Summer Foundation, expressed concern about this homelessness provision, warning that it “needs to be watched carefully so it doesn’t act as a bit of a back door to allowing more people in,” as quoted in The Herald Sun.
This loophole risks undermining decades of bipartisan efforts to end the inappropriate placement of younger people in aged care, a practice often described as “warehousing” young disabled people in nursing homes.
The human cost: Jessi’s story
Jessi, a 25-year-old Melbourne woman with a neurological disorder and autism, exemplifies the human cost of this systemic failure.
Facing eviction from her supported disability accommodation due to its closure, Jessi has been denied increased National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding for a new home with adequate support, with the NDIA deeming her case “not urgent.”
Left with few options, she may be forced back into aged care, an environment she described as neglectful during a previous 18-month stay. “I’ve got huge concerns about (my) mental health and physical health,” Jessi told The Herald Sun, noting that her basic needs, like being fed and washed, were barely met in the facility.
Jessi’s experience is not isolated. Aged care facilities are designed for older people with different care needs, leaving younger residents like Jessi unable to engage in everyday activities such as cooking, gardening, or laundry due to a lack of appropriate support.
She also expressed concerns about practical challenges, stating, “I’ll be able to go to work, but will I get there on time? Because they’ve now got 40 residents to all get up at the same time.”
The negatives of aged care for younger people
Research and advocacy groups, including the Summer Foundation, highlight the profound negative impacts of placing younger people with disabilities in aged care settings. These environments are often ill-equipped to meet the complex needs of younger individuals, leading to a range of detrimental outcomes:
Loss of independence and skills:
Aged care facilities prioritise care for older residents with age-related needs, often neglecting the rehabilitation or developmental needs of younger people with disabilities. This can lead to a loss of skills and independence, as noted by Dr Di Winkler and Dr Peter Mulherin of the Summer Foundation, who argue that “warehousing people with disability under 65 in nursing homes that are not resourced to meet their needs is a waste of human potential.”
Social isolation:
Younger people in aged care are often cut off from their peers, families, and communities, leading to profound social isolation. The Summer Foundation notes that these individuals “lose skills, social connection and hope” due to the lack of age-appropriate activities and environments. Jessi’s inability to engage in meaningful activities like gardening or cooking underscores this issue.
Mental health crisis:
The inappropriate placement of younger people in aged care exacerbates mental health issues. The Menzies Research Centre’s Freya Leach has highlighted an “unfair mismatch” in Australia’s mental health system, which fails to adequately support people with disabilities. Jessi’s fear for her mental health if forced back into aged care reflects broader concerns about the psychological toll of these settings, where residents may feel trapped and dehumanised.
Physical health decline:
Inadequate care in aged care facilities can lead to physical health deterioration. Jessi’s previous experience of being “barely fed” or washed highlights the neglect some younger residents face. Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that younger people in aged care are at risk of unmet health needs due to facilities’ focus on older residents.
Barriers to community participation:
Aged care settings often restrict younger residents’ ability to participate in work, education, or community activities. The Summer Foundation’s research shows that only a small fraction of younger people exiting aged care move to NDIS-funded housing, with many either dying or transferring to hospitals rather than achieving better outcomes. Jessi’s concern about getting to work on time illustrates the logistical barriers imposed by aged care routines.
Systemic failures and the NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has faced criticism for bureaucratic delays in approving funding for alternative accommodations, contributing to the ongoing placement of younger people in aged care.
The Herald Sun reported that the NDIA is assessing Jessi’s request for increased funding, with a spokesperson stating, “Jessica has current funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation that can be used to access a new home.” However, the slow pace of approvals – 26% of housing and support funding decisions take over 90 days – means many, like Jessi, face interim placement in aged care.
The Summer Foundation’s Down to 10 campaign, supported by over 130 health, housing, and disability organisations, calls for faster NDIS funding to prevent new admissions to aged care. The campaign notes that 40 younger people continue to enter aged care each month, a 25% decrease since 2020 but still “40 too many.”
Government response and future directions
Aged Care Minister Sam Rae told The Herald Sun that the government has made “significant progress” in reducing the number of younger people in aged care, from over 5,000 to 1,060 in five years.
However, advocates argue that progress is too slow, with many exits attributed to residents dying or ageing out of the under-65 cohort rather than moving to appropriate housing.
The new Aged Care Act, set to take effect on 1 November 2025, aims to prioritise the rights of older people and limit access for younger individuals, but its delayed implementation and loopholes raise concerns.
The Summer Foundation and other advocates urge stronger oversight to ensure the homelessness provision does not become a pathway for more young people to enter aged care.
