The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has commenced its most recent hearings, turning attention to the experiences of young people with disability living in residential aged care facilities with commissioner Lynelle Briggs labelling the system of younger people with disabilities living in nursing homes a national embarrassment and disgrace.  The commission has made it clear that people under 65 with a disability or medical condition should not be in nursing homes, even before delivering any findings or recommendations.  There are about 6,000 Australians under the age of 65 in residential aged care, a number that has remained steady for more than a decade.  Every week, 42 younger Australians are sent to aged care facilities.

Photo courtesy of abc.net.au