COMMON AGREEMENT

A number of groups have come together to take collective action around the growing numbers of younger people with disability (under 65) who are:

1. inappropriately placed in or likely to be placed in residential aged care facilities; or
2. using aged care services that are inappropriate for younger people.

While each group may have different perspectives we have reached common agreement that:

In principle, aged care facilities and services are inappropriate for younger people with disability.

The intent of Commonwealth policy is that younger people should only enter an aged care facility as a last resort. Increasingly, the last resort is becoming the ONLY resort.

Our concern is that in the absence of appropriate supports and funding, aged care facilities are growing to be a common option for younger people with disability.

In this early stage the group is seeking a greater understanding of:

• Who the people are
• Where they are
• Whey there are there
• What life is like for younger people in this situation