Australia’s aged care system is not designed to support younger people under the age of 65 years.
Under the Aged Care Act, access to Australian Government–funded aged care services is limited to people with care needs who are either:
- aged 65 years or over
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and aged 50 years or over
- homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 years or over
- already living in an aged care home or accessing aged care services.
People under 65 who meet the above eligibility criteria, must be informed of alternative services that may meet their care needs before accessing aged care services.
Support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports NDIS participants to live in the community or other suitable settings.
To check eligibility, either:
The National Disability Insurance Agency can also help participants living in an aged care home who want to move. You can discuss your home and living goals with your NDIS planner or NDIS support coordinator.
Support for younger people not eligible for the NDIS
If you are not eligible for the NDIS or are yet to test your eligibility, other support options are available.
State and territory governments have a responsibility to help younger people find alternative accommodation and other supports (such as personal care or domestic assistance) where they are:
- not eligible for the NDIS
- not eligible for NDIS-funded home and living supports.
For more information on what housing options may be available, please contact the relevant authority in your state or territory.
You can also access the Younger people in residential aged care (YPIRAC) toolkit to help understand your housing and support options.
If you live in NSW and are not eligible for the NDIS, the Ability First Australia (AFA) NSW Systems Coordinator Program can help you to access supports and services across the health, community, disability and housing sectors. The program provides a case management service to people under the age of 65 living in the community, who present with complex care needs.
Review of existing support plan
You can get a support service reassessment if:
- you have had an aged care needs assessment
- you already receive government-funded aged care services
- your circumstances have changed.
Contact My Aged Care to be referred to an assessment organisation.
The assessment organisation will decide if a reassessment is needed. You will need evidence of:
- what NDIS or other support services you have considered
- why these supports were not appropriate for your needs.
Your NDIS support coordinator, or NDIS planner will help you to explore these options.
Support at Home program
The Support at Home program helps older people with complex care needs to live in their own homes.
If you are aged under 65 years, have a disability and currently access the Support at Home program, you can check your eligibility for NDIS support and services with the Am I eligible checklist.
Residential aged care fees and payments
If you live in an aged care home, you may need to pay fees that are not NDIS-funded, including:
- contribution to accommodation costs
- living expenses
- care services.
Read about residential aged care fees and payments for providers and younger people.
Provider support
Residential aged care providers can support a younger person who wants to leave aged care, regardless of their NDIS status.
You can encourage the younger aged care resident to:
- use the Am I eligible checklist to see whether they are eligible for NDIS support and services
- encourage NDIS participants to talk to their NDIS support coordinator or NDIS planner about options
- refer to the Younger people in residential aged care (YPIRAC) toolkit to understand their housing and support options.
Read more about delivering care to younger people in residential aged care settings.
For information and support for NDIS providers, including meeting requirements, visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Resources
Resources are available to help younger people, support networks, workers and providers to consider and access suitable accommodation and support.
Contacts
State and territory governments have a responsibility to help younger people find alternative accommodation and other supports (such as personal care or domestic assistance) where they are:
- not eligible for the NDIS
- not eligible for NDIS-funded home and living supports.
For more information on what housing options may be available, please contact the relevant authority in your state or territory.
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) contact
Disability Gateway
