About the initiative
Aged care homes are not appropriate places for people under the age of 65 years to live.
The number of younger people living in residential aged care has reduced from more than 6,000 in 2017–18 to 1,161 in September 2024 (excluding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 to 64 years).
In response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, we work to ensure that no one under the age of 65 is living in residential aged care, apart from exceptional circumstances.
We are taking several actions to help meet this target:
- Ability First Australia (AFA) established a national network of Younger People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) System Coordinators. The coordinators engage with younger people aged under 65 years living in, or at risk of entry to, residential aged care to find suitable accommodation and supports.
- The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) supports younger National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants to find suitable accommodation and services.
- The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports on progress on reducing the number of younger people living in residential aged care.
- An independent evaluation has been undertaken, looking at actions taken to date to reduce the number of younger people in residential aged care, to inform future initiatives.
Who we work with
To help younger people explore suitable accommodation, we work with:
- state and territory governments
- aged care and disability support providers
- NDIS planners
- AFA YPIRAC System Coordinators.
We contribute to the YPIRAC Joint Agency Taskforce to reduce the number of younger people living in residential aged care. The taskforce includes:
- the Department of Social Services (Chair)
- our department
- the NDIA.
Meeting our goals
Younger people who want to access Australian Government-funded aged care services must:
- work with their NDIS support coordinator, NDIS planner or an AFA YPIRAC System Coordinator to explore suitable accommodation and support options
- apply for an aged care needs assessment
- meet eligibility requirements to become an aged care resident.
This includes testing their NDIS eligibility, where appropriate.
Read about the process in the Principles and guidelines for a younger person’s access to Commonwealth funded aged care services.
Changes to eligibility for aged care services for younger people from 1 July
From 1 July, the new Aged Care Act will limit entry to Australian Government-funded aged care services to people with care needs who are either:
- aged 65 years and over
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and aged 50 years or over
- homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 years or over.
The start of the new Act will not mean you need a reassessment if you are already accessing aged care services. Younger people currently accessing aged care services, including home care packages, can continue to access services under the new Act, even if they are below the minimum age.
Learn more
Read how we support younger people in, or at risk of entering, residential aged care.
Contact
