A scoping review to explore the experiences and outcomes of younger people with disabilities in residential aged care facilities

Abstract

(2020) A scoping review to explore the experiences and outcomes of younger people with disabilities in residential aged care facilities,

Young people in residential aged care: Is Australia on track to meet its targets?

“…Connecting people to information, advice and advocacy outside of their RAC provider does seem likely to be generally important. Young people in RAC often are not aware of other housing and support options, and RAC providers have little capacity (or incentive) to explore other possibilities (Oliver et al, 2020). Capacity building to trial and consider alternatives over an extended period of time is needed to give people real choice.…”

“…However, a large body of research suggests that for many younger people in RAC, alternative housing and support services are in fact feasible and provide a greater quality of life (Sloan et al, 2009; Winkler et al, 2012; Winkler et al, 2015). Indeed, the health, well‐being and social participation of young people in RAC are particularly poor, in comparison with people with similar disabilities in other settings and compared with the general population (Oliver et al, 2020). Although individuals and their families may give consent to being admitted to RAC, many report feeling forced into RAC by a lack of access to disability services and disability‐appropriate housing (Barry et al, 2019; Winkler et al, 2007).…”

Making homes more accessible for people with mobility impairment: A lived experience perspective

“…The risk of living in public housing is six times higher for people with disability (Aitken et al, 2019). People with mobility impairments are often forced to rely on social or community housing, or even residential aged care facilities (Gonzalez et al, 2015; Oliver et al, 2020; Saugeres, 2011), and this is often because they cannot secure housing that meets their needs. Public and community housing encompasses only 6 per cent of the Australian market, with these facilities often burdened by stretched resources, long waitlists, and limited choices (Saugeres, 2011).…”

“…However, the study is limited in its generalisability to all people with mobility impairment, as an overwhelming majority of participants were homeowners, rather than people living in private rentals, where changes to accessible design are significantly more difficult. Nevertheless, for people with mobility impairment, the stress of possibly being forced to move to another residence or to residential aged care has significant negative impacts on self‐reported mental health and well‐being (Oliver et al, 2020; Wiesel, 2020). Therefore, incorporating accessible features in new dwellings would improve opportunity and choice for people to stay in locations close to family and friends, and reduce the need for them to move to alternative accommodation (Aplin et al, 2015).…”

Factors associated with discharge from hospital to residential aged care for younger people with neuropsychiatric disorders: an exploratory case–control study in New South Wales, Australia

“…It is known that younger people living in RAC experience a range of negative outcomes, including a lack of appropriate recreational activities and medical and rehabilitation services, loss of function and experiences of grief, hopelessness and neglect 3–9. Furthermore, many RAC facilities are not equipped to adequately meet the specific and complex health and rehabilitation needs of younger people with disability 4 10…”