YPIRAC figures highlight much more needs to be done

 

While Youngcare applauds any progress in providing support for young people with high care needs, figures released by the Council of Australian Governments through the Young People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) program highlight the significant work still ahead of us.

 

The YPIRAC program is a national initiative which aims to reduce the number of people living in aged care who are less than 65 years of age.

 

Figures released for the 2008-2009 period – the third year of the program – show that a total of 817 people received services funded by YPIRAC, a 41% increase on the number receiving funding in the previous year.

 

Youngcare commends the work of Federal Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten and State Ministers such as Queensland Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs Annastacia Palaszczuk in raising awareness of the issue and fighting for more funding under YPIRAC and the National Disability Agreement.

 

 “While the increase in provision of services represents real progress, we must put these YPIRAC figures into context, remembering that over 6,500 young people currently reside in aged care with a further 700,000 being cared for at home,” Youngcare’s  General Manager Stakeholder Relations Ms Genevieve Atkinson said.

 

“Since YPIRAC’s inception three years ago, a total of 947 young people with high care needs have received funding for services – with hundreds of thousands of young Australians requiring full-time care, there is still a lot of work to be done.”

 

Youngcare believes the issue of people with high care needs should be addressed outside of the ‘disability prism’. 

 

“This issue is not just a disability issue alone - it touches on a number of portfolio’s including housing, aged care and most importantly, health.  Until it is discussed at a broader level, we are not going to find the answers we are looking for,” Ms Atkinson said.

 

Through Youngcare Connect information and support hotline, Youngcare has become aware that many families who have taken on the carer role are finding themselves ineligible for the YPIRAC program.

 

“A family Youngcare has been working with very closely recently found out they are ineligible for YPIRAC funding because they refused to state their daughter was at risk of entering aged care,” Ms Atkinson said.

 

“This is an appalling situation – this family is saving the Government’s money by caring for their daughter at home; however, they are refused desperately needed financial support.   This is highly inappropriate.”

 

Youngcare will continue to work to ensure that young Australians with 24/7 care needs are provided with choice in care and accommodation options.