A Different Light – 4th October 2025 – Young disabled people don’t belong in rest homes
Shock, horror! This week the issue of young disabled people living in rest homes hit the national headlines! If only it really was “news”, as in “new”. Sadly, this situation is nothing new.
When I started working in the disability sector, over 20 years ago, the acronym, YPD was regularly used. For me it brought to mind NYPD Blues, the gritty, cool TV series about New York Police (yes, this ages me). But no, in the disability sector, while certainly gritty the meaning of YPD was not in any way cool. On the contrary, YPD units were Young People’s Disabled units in old age rest homes. I was shocked back then at the notion of a relatively young person having to live in an old-age home. So, while sadly it is not a new practice, It is right that it is being raised again in the media. I didn’t like it then and the concept remains unpalatable.
There are currently over 800 people in NZ who are under the age of 65 and living in rest homes, according to recent news articles. In Northland there are currently twelve rest homes with Young Disabled People’s Units. This comprises seven in Whangarei, four in the Mid-North, and one in the Far-North.
There is widespread agreement disabled people require a wide range of living options, providing various levels of support. Residentials facilities are a much-needed option in this range. There has been a reluctance from Government to invest in these services. This is because in the past there have been some large residential institutions that were lacking in terms of choice and control for disabled people to live how they wished. Today, however, surely, we have the experience and expertise so that residential settings no longer have to be like this. Providers here in Tai Tokerau have shown disabled people can live in facilities where they are treated with respect, have choices, and be involved in their communities. Kaurilands and Greenways in the Kaipara, are great examples of high-quality residential facilities where disabled people are supported to be involved in their communities.
Kaurilands residents work for the Kaipara Refuge Trust, they volunteer for the Hospice Shop and do many other activities. They are at capacity; their last vacancy was three years ago.
Greenways Trust has a social enterprise depot, where they carry out carpentry and make various products. They are also very involved with their community. Their last vacancy was over a year ago. There needs to be more residential facilities like Kaurilands and the Greenways Trust. They both provide excellent support for their residents to live good lives.
What is not appropriate is for disabled people who are under the age of 65 to be living in old age care facilities. Rest homes are experts in providing care for their specialist area- elderly folk. This demographic has its own needs and cultural requirements. As do younger disabled folk. While I may no longer qualify, as the latter, I do not yet qualify for rest home status simply because I’m disabled! Mind you, I was horrified the other day when I looked at my invoice from my chiropodist and they had given me an over 65 discount! After this shock I spent a little while reflecting on the style of my clothes, my haircut and the size of my eyebags.
The Government needs to do some reflection too. They need to reflect on supporting the development of a range of living options for disabled people that are fit for purpose, giving their residents dignity, respect and choice. Young Disabled people living is aged care is nothing new, it’s aged old, but it needs to be fixed now.
Jonny Wilkinson is the CEO of Tiaho Trust – Disability A Matter of Perception, a Whangarei based disability advocacy organisation.