Incompatibility !

Nursing homes are correctly described as " Aged Care facilities ".   We have an ageing population and more beds are desperately needed to house senior citizens who have passed the point of being able to shop, cook and generally care for themselves.   They are designed to not only provide a bed, but the twenty-four hour care that involves toileting, showering and the provision of medical oversight.

Unfortunately, they are the only source of residence for the two thousand young people in New South Wales who are in need of twenty-four hour care because of disability brought on by illness - or who have suffered a tragic accident.

It is not hard to see the incompatibility factor.   Nursing homes are the residence of people in their eighties and are setup accordingly.   No doubt the staff do their best to accommodate a young person subjected to that environment, but it is a fact of life that the condition of these young patients wither and retreat the longer they live amongst the aged in nursing homes.

The Brain Injury Association of New South Wales is organising a petition to create specialised nursing facilities for young people.    They need 10,000 signatures to ensure that this will be presented in parliament, but just getting it tabled is no guarantee that funds will be made available to achieve what is so badly needed.

One of the problems is the need to place young disabled as near as possible to parents and relatives so that visiting contact can be maintained.  This often results in a single young patient being housed in a local nursing home, hence the " Lonely little Petunia in an onion patch " syndrome.

This is something that the health professionals will have to grapple with.   It may be more beneficial to locate a number of " young people oriented " nursing facilities in various parts of the state, knowing they will reduce the number of family visits - but also knowing that the congregation of people of a similar age will enhance the atmosphere and promote social integration.   

As things stand, we are doing the young disabled a tragic disservice.   Putting such people in aged nursing homes is ignoring the reality of the connection between physical health and mental health.

Just one more need to stretch the health dollar further !