NSW: Young disabled people wrongly placed in homes
SYDNEY, April 7 AAP - Nursing homes are being wrongly used to house around 500 youngpeople with disabilities in NSW, the independent watchdog for community services said.
Community Services Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald said it was a severe problem andthe federal and state governments needed to fix it.
"Whatever shortage exists in nursing home beds has been made worse by the inappropriateplacement in nursing homes of people with disabilities who are under 50 years old," hesaid.
"It is an unfortunate situation for both the older people who have trouble findinga place in an aged care facility and for the younger people whose care and developmentneeds are not being properly met."
Young people in nursing homes often felt isolated and had few people their own agegroup to interact with, Mr Fitzgerald said.
They would be better placed in supported accommodation within the community, he said.
"Investing and committing to new community-based accommodation for people with a disabilitywould be a win-win situation," Mr Fitzgerald said.
"It would free up places in the nursing home system and improve the independence andquality of life of the younger people who should never have been forced into aged carefacilities in the first place."
Mr Fitzgerald said the state government had failed to provide sufficient disabilityservices to people stuck in the federal government funded aged care system.
He called on both levels of government to address the issue.
AAP aa/cdh/sb
KEYWORD: NURSING
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