My future my choice
Better living options for younger people in residential aged care
Latest news
The Council of Australian Government’s (COAG’s) five year Younger People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) initiative ended on 30 June 2011. While the agreement between the Commonwealth and Victoria is now completed, funding committed to the new services continues under the my future my choice initiative.
The my future my choice initiative is an ongoing commitment to support younger people in, or at risk of admission to, residential aged care (RAC) facilities. From 2010-2011, $18.7 million ($9,383,586 each) in ongoing joint Commonwealth/Victorian State funding has been committed to support this initiative. This amount is indexed annually.
All individuals currently in receipt of ongoing my future my choice services will continue to receive support for as long as needed.
Younger people living in, or at risk of entry to RAC can register a request for ongoing disability supports by contacting their local Intake and Response team on 1800 783 783.
More houses open
Grovedale
The Grovedale house is now home to five younger people who were previously living in residential aged care, or with older carers. Scope Vic will manage the new service, and is supporting the new residents to live more independently in the community.
The house is purpose designed as a split house, which can operate as two separate units if the residents choose. It is fitted with assistive technologies, such as automatic doors, to allow the residents greater control over their environment. One of the new residents is Brendan who is 40 years old and has an acquired brain injury. Brendan says that his life has changed immensely since moving to Grovedale. He now has the opportunity to enjoy an active life in his local community.
"I now have choices regarding social interaction and an opportunity to go places I so desire. I am now a member of the Cats, I am able to attend training sessions. I also like to go to bingo and social nights at the pub."
The house is a much more inviting place for family and friends to visit. Brendan’s family are really pleased with his move out of residential aged care, and say that Brendan is much happier since moving to his new home in Grovedale.
"We know he is happy and that he has choices. He is out and about. He is making decisions for himself", said Brendan’s father.
Alphington
Operated by the Villa Maria Society, the new house is now a place to call home for ten younger people who have an acquired brain injury who were previously living in residential aged care. It supports residents who have very high support needs with associated medical needs. There are ten studio-style rooms built around a central courtyard, with 24 hour support on-site, including nursing care.
The home is close to shops, transport and community facilities. It has been designed and built to maximise the residents’ opportunities and independence, and there is plenty of space for family and friends to visit.
Accommodation and support places
A total of 22 new service developments will be established under the my future my choice initiative, providing accommodation and support for 104 younger people living in, or at risk of entry to, residential aged care. This includes the 18 homes that have already opened providing support for 84 younger people. The remaining houses and unit developments are at various stages of design and construction.
These new accommodation and support places will provide innovative housing and support to maximise the outcomes for younger people who were living in, or at risk of entry to, residential aged care. The new houses and units are located across rural regions and metropolitan areas, as shown in the table below.
Eastern Metropolitan Region
|
Location |
Service Provider |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Balwyn |
Scope |
Opened February 2008 |
| Glen Waverley |
Wesley Mission |
Opened March 2010 |
| Bayswater |
Yooralla |
Opened April 2011 |
Southern Metropolitan Region
| Location | Service Provider | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Noble Park |
Yooralla |
Opened April 2011 |
| McKinnon | Multiple Sclerosis Limited | Opened January 2011 |
| Cranbourne | Wesley Mission | Construction |
| Frankston |
Focus |
Opened July 2011 |
North & West Metropolitan Region
| Location | Service Provider | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Altona |
Yooralla |
Opened April 2011 |
| Alphington |
Villa Maria |
Opened August 2010 |
| Oak Park |
EW Tipping |
Construction |
| Reservoir |
Yooralla |
Opened April 2011 |
| St Albans |
Gellibrand Support Services |
Construction |
Barwon South Western Region
|
Location |
Service Provider |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Belmont |
Karingal |
Opened December 2010 |
| Grovedale* |
Scope |
Opened August 2010 |
Loddon Mallee Region
|
Location |
Service Provider |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bendigo |
Scope |
Opened February 2011 |
Gippsland Region
|
Location |
Service Provider |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Moe* |
EW Tipping |
Opened May 2011 |
| Bairnsdale* |
EW Tipping |
Opened March 2011 |
| Sale* |
Yooralla |
Opened June 2011 |
Grampians Region
|
Location |
Service Provider |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sebastopol* |
McCallum Disability Services |
Opened May 2011 |
| Horsham* |
Wimmera Uniting Care |
Opened July 2011 |
Hume Region
|
Location |
Service Provider |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Shepparton* |
Connect GV | Opened November 2010 |
| Wodonga* |
EW Tipping |
Construction |
* Indicates joint Older Carers/my future my choice disability service.
Quality of Life evaluation
The Summer Foundation
The Summer Foundation (external site, opens in new window) has been engaged by the Department of Human Services to undertake a Quality of Life evaluation for individuals receiving support services through the my future my choice initiative.
The evaluation will assess improvement in the quality of life for these young people. It will consider factors that foster successful outcomes to inform future service delivery. This evaluation will involve interviews with the participant and/or a family member along with other relevant people.
The department has sent a letter to all my future my choice participants, inviting them to participate in the evaluation. We hope to include as many people as possible.
The Summer Foundation is dedicated to overcoming the issue of younger people living in nursing homes. The foundation focuses on practical research and seeks to provide workable solutions.
Accommodation and support service reviews
The Department of Human Services has engaged Heather Michaels and Associates to develop a review framework and undertake the reviews of four new accommodation and support services that were developed under the my future my choice (Younger People in Residential Aged Care) initiative across Victoria.
The aim of the project is to determine the extent to which accommodation services developed under my future my choice have been effective in responding to the service system gap for younger people living in, or at risk of admission to residential aged care.
The project will:
- Develop a review framework
- Review four individual services developed through the my future my choice initiative
- Occur separately from any independent monitoring or auditing that may be occurring within the Community Service Organisation as part of quality improvement
- Not be a program evaluation of the my future my choice initiative
- Not include evaluations of individual client and family outcomes.
The project commenced in early August 2011, with the final report to be delivered by the end of the year.
Action for Community Living
Action for Community Living (ACL) (external site) is a federally funded organisation advocating empowerment, independence and life in the community for people with disabilities.
For advocacy support, contact ACL for a referral to your local advocacy service.
Contact details
Tel: (03) 9489 2999
Email: acl@advocacyhouse.org
Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance
The Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance (YPINHA) is a peak body for young Australians with disability and high and complex support needs. The YPINHA held the Shaping the Future Today National Conference in August 2008.
The conference report is available from the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance website (external site, opens in new window).
Contact Information
Disability Intake and Response Service
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
1800 783 783
TTY: 1800 008 149
