This is an area that has the potential to re-traumatise Care Leavers. Many say the last thing they want to do in old age is to spend their life in an institution in the way they remember their childhood. Some former orphanages and children’s Homes have been converted into aged care facilities – or have the same name or are run by the same agencies that ran their childhood places. Finding out the hard way can trigger distress. Aged care providers need to be alert to these problems.
Following the National Apology in 2009, the Australian Government declared that Care Leavers were a Special Needs group for aged care. This has helped raise the level of awareness of the needs of Care Leavers entering the aged care sector. Not that the sector as a whole is up to speed. There are many providers who remain unaware of the problems Care Leavers have because of their childhood experiences that carry into their adult lives.
I plan to include some discussion of the issues in coming months. I’d be delighted for suggestions and comments.