‘Shambolic’ aged care system ‘never designed’ to look after disabled people

Disability Doesn’t Discriminate’s David Margan says many people who have acquired a disability in their old age have been “thrown into poverty” after being refused entry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Mr Margan, who is Disability Doesn’t Discriminate’s Campaign Manager, said people aged 65-years or older who sustain a serious spine or brain injury would not be allowed in the NDIS because of their age.

“You would be thrown into what is a rather shambolic aged care system which was never designed to look after people with disabilities,” he told Sky News host Chris Kenny.

Mr Margan added the highest package people would be able to get in aged care would be around $52,000 a year.

“With these sorts of disabilities and injuries, you could be facing around $100,000 to $300,000 in costs per annum,” he said.

“There are so many cases of people who have been thrown into poverty and ultimately they end up going into aged care because they can’t look after themselves.”