The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has started, which will put the spotlight on how older people, many with disability, are treated in aged care facilities. We believe this is a critical opportunity for the many thousands of older people with disability to have their voices heard and obtain justice for the violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect they have experienced.
Already, shocking stories have emerged of chemical and physical restraint being used on older people, and the Federal Government has announced measures to regulate these restrictive practices.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care will also include the thousands of younger people with disability who live in nursing homes. Recent data shows that the introduction of the NDIS has meant that many young people in aged care are missing out on funding for disability accommodation in their NDIS plans so they can get out of aged care facilities and into the community where they belong.
We also want the Royal Commission to look at the inequalities experience by older people with disability who are over 65 and do not have access to the NDIS.
Critically, the Royal Commission into Aged Care must also consider the specific and unique issues, disadvantages and risks that are constantly faced by women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in aged care.