Program to keep young from nursing homes

Mon 2 Jun 2008

A pilot program aimed at keeping young people with progressive neurological disorders out of nursing homes will be launched in Melbourne.

Victorian Labor MP Rob Hudson said the 15-month continuous care program, the first of its kind, had been developed by the MS Australia in conjunction with other groups and would be funded by the state's Department of Human Services.

It would establish a framework for the continuous management of young people with conditions such as multiple sclerosis so they can remain living in the community.

More than 1,000 Australians under 50 were inappropriately housed in aged care facilities, MS Australia spokesman Alan Blackwood said.

"People with progressive neurological conditions are at particular risk of premature nursing home entry if the system cannot meet their changing care needs," he said.

"This program will introduce the tools needed at an early stage to support people living with MS and their families by focusing on getting different parts of the system to form a partnership of care and manage the changes as they occur."

The program is a partnership between MS Australia and Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, a Melbourne hospital.

Results will be compiled to form recommendations for a possible national roll-out of the program.