Young disabled people left stranded in aged care

A key mission of the $22bn National Disability Insurance Scheme to rescue young people stuck in nursing homes is failing.

A key mission of the $22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme to rescue young people stuck in nursing homes is failing, with 173 being rejected from the program and fewer than 1 per cent being granted housing support.

The number of people denied access has jumped to 173 from 118 in just three months although the National Disability Insurance Agency refuses to explain why most of these did not meet the disability requirements of the scheme. Data released by the agency to the Senate shows 2749 people under the age of 65 who have been left in residential aged care have received an NDIS plan since 2013, but just 23 of these have been given extra funding under Specialist Disability Accommo­dation allowances.

The SDA component of a support package is reserved for the most profoundly disabled people in a scheme designed for those ­already in the most need and will be worth $700 million each year by 2020.

Summer Foundation chief executive Luke Bo’sher said this funding was critical.

“Over 99 per cent of young people in aged care don’t currently have enough NDIS funding to be able to leave their aged-care ­facility,” he said.

“Without this funding, most will be unable to leave aged care. Having suitable housing options is crucial to solving this issue. People with very significant physical support needs require highly accessible housing.”

Mr Bo’sher said the NDIA ­deserved credit for turning around the slow pace of young people in nursing homes being granted ­access to the scheme.

“More young people in aged care have come into the NDIS in the last six months than in the last four years,” he said.

“Now that young people in aged care are connecting to the scheme, we need to ensure the NDIS is assisting them to move out of aged care.”

The Weekend Australian understands the number of people rejected from the scheme despite having conditions so severe they are in aged-care residences is ­likely higher than the 173 given by the NDIA because that only includes those who formally applied for access. Others were told over the phone that they would probably not be eligible for the NDIS and therefore did not apply.

There are about 3600 young people in nursing homes who have not had an NDIS assessment. In some cases, the agency has rejected young people in nursing homes because it believes their conditions are more ­appropriately classified as “medical”.

“We know some people have a health condition. But whether you have a health condition or a disability, aged care is no place for a 30 or 40-year-old,” Mr Bo’sher said. “This is where COAG needs to look at how the NDIS fits with the health system to make sure we don’t have young people falling through the cracks.

“The solution to this issue ­requires the support of all levels of government to help the NDIS ­deliver on its promise to stop young people being forced to live in aged care because there is ­nowhere else for them.”