Imagine being 20 years old and surrounded by the aged and dying every single day. This is the tragic fate of thousands of young people across Australia. http://www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Young_people_in_nursing_homes.aspx Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:54:29 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://rss-net.sf.net/ I researched and wrote an article about this issue for a journalism assignment first year uni. It will always be an issue I consider close to my heart. I spoke to a father of a boy who had been involved in a nightclub brawl and now sits disabled, with little brain activity, in a hospital and will probably move soon into a nursing home. It is here that he will probably get little visits from his friends, (as his father said, nursing homes are intimidating places), have little chance of recovery (adequate rehabilition is impossible) and be totally isolated and forgotten. It really is an awful issue. I fear also that it is an issue that will probably continue, as the apparent emergence of street violence continues. The father of the 20 year old man said to me that this problem has arisen away from the health system's eyes. It begs the question, how many others are we forgetting because our health system isn't perfect? Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:54:29 GMT The worse thing is in Queensland, nothing has acutally changed "yet". However no one is taking responsibility. My brother is in hospital, has been for 6 months after a severe brain injury. Up until a couple of weeks ago - the hospital wanted him out, aged care didn't want to touch him because of his age, Youngcare wouldn't take him because his level of care and Disability Servcies Queensland couldn't offer alternative care other then aged care, but hadn't put anything in writing so he could go to the care that was available. He can't go home to mum & dad, my mum's currently in hospital recovering from a bone marrow transplant. I considered bring him home to me, but government funding could only supply 7 hours a day of care and he needs 24/7 nursing care. Lucky for us he's started to improve and he's got a chance of going to slow stream rehab...but there's only one place that offers what he needs and there's a small number of beds and large number of patients...fingers crossed he's excepted and a bed is available. All aside this is still a huge problem and there's too many gaps for patients and there family to slip through. Anyone in his position has no where that is suitable for them to receive nursing care. Even after he finishes rehab, he may still need a high level of nursing care and I'm going to make sure there's somewhere for him to get exactly what he needs. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:55:44 GMT Hmmm and imagine how many friends actually pass away in nursing homes due to age. I dont think one keeps a friend for very long............ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:57:41 GMT This is a great issue page. It highlights an important issue and was very imformative. I had no idea this was even a problem until I read this page! Kudos! Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:09:07 GMT What a great issue page. This situation is disgusting and I am horrified to know that it is happening in our country. The thing is , this could happen to anyone ......one day you could be walking around , going to work and seeing friends and then in an instant you could need 24 hour care in a nursing home like facility.... I hope that more young people become aware of this issue and I hope that it is put on the political agenda asap!!!. With an increasingly aging population it is more important than ever that we start to look at alternatives for young people!..... It is simply not fair that they should have to be in a nursing home. - how would this impact someones mental health i wonder. ..... misshannah Tue, 21 Nov 2006 05:40:28 GMT A terrifying prospect for all those young people with chronic illnesses/disabilities. Young people with a young spirit shouldn't be confined to the four lifeless walls often found in these homes. While I openly encourage different generations mixing, there are fundamental differences between lifestyles of the young and old. Their bodies may not be willing, but the spirit is...and these young adults don't deserve to spend their days in the quiet, sterile surrounds of a nursing home. Sun, 20 Aug 2006 05:37:13 GMT