A review led by the National Centre for Healthy Ageing and Monash University highlights key challenges faced by more than 500,000 older care leavers entering the aged care system. It stresses the need to incorporate their experiences into policy and practice.
Care leavers, often called ‘forgotten Australians,’ include those who spent time in orphanages, children’s homes, or foster care. The review, published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, found many fear institutional aged care and prefer to remain at home with support.
Co-author Professor Philip Mendes said aged care services must adopt trauma-informed approaches. Researchers recommend personalised, flexible funding and advocacy to help care leavers navigate the system.
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