Younger People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC)

Residential aged care is generally not an appropriate setting for people under the age of 65 years, noting the aged care system is designed to support the needs of older people.

Younger people in residential aged care (YPIRAC) is a complex issue and requires extensive one-on-one support and regular conversations with individuals, their families/guardians and service providers across the disability, aged care, health and housing sectors at all levels of government.

Significant effort across the Commonwealth, states and territories governments is in place to support the achievement of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety target of ‘no people under the age of 65 living in residential aged care by 2025’. At 30 June 2022, there were 2,934 people under the age of 65 in residential aged care, which represents a 24.7% decrease from 30 June 2021. It is also noted a 30% reduction in the number of younger people entering residential aged care (497) when compared to the prior 12-month period (712).

As part of the Budget 2023-24, the Australian Government announced the following measures to further transition YPIRAC:

  • $3.6 million for targeted education and training packages for general practitioners, clinicians and key change agents within care systems to further support YPIRAC to transition to age-appropriate accommodation.
  • $2.4 million to establish a national central function to support consistent decision-making on the eligibility of younger people seeking to enter residential aged care facilities.
  • $1.3 million for the delivery of an independent evaluation of past and current YPIRAC measures to inform future initiatives. This evaluation will focus on what has worked, what has not worked, and what further action is required to ensure younger people have age-appropriated accommodation options.

For more information

For more information regarding National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) go to www.ndis.gov.au/

For more information regarding YPIRAC at Department of Health and Aged Care, go to Support for younger people in, or at risk of entering, residential aged care | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

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