Youths with disabilities moving from nursing homes
Younger people with disabilities in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs will be able to move out of residential aged care services into specially provided accommodation thanks to the five-year, $60.2 million joint Commonwealth-State project, my future, my choice initiative, which has been announced by the Victorian Minister for Community Services, Lisa Neville.
“While it is important to give those younger people in residential aged care the opportunity to move out, we also recognise it is just as important to help prevent younger people at risk from entering aged care facilities,” Ms Neville said.
The new building will be home for up to six people with a range of disabilities, with the new house anticipated to be completed early next year. The total budget for the building project is $1.7 million.
All the new homes will be purpose built, designed to enhance the independence of the residents and improve their quality of life. Residents will be encouraged to continue strong relationships with their family and the wider community.
The new facility will be managed by Wesley Mission.
There were 182 younger people in residential aged care facilities as of May 2009, down from 221 people in July 2006.
The Brumby Government announced $13.8 million in the recent state budget for stage two of the program.
“To date, my future, my choice has funded 67 individual support packages that have enabled 21 younger people to exit residential aged care and another 46 younger people to avoid entering residential aged care,” Ms Neville said.
“Over 100 younger people have received disability supports, to enhance their quality of life whilst in residential aged care”.
