An Adelaide family says it has been denied homes in retirement villages because their 38-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy and lives with them, is too young.
Paul Warren said he and his wife decided they would look after their son, Michael, for as long as possible after he was diagnosed at the age of six months.
But Mr Warren has health issues and the family wants to sell their family home and move into a retirement village.
“So I made some inquiries with some of the local retirement villages around here,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
“As soon as they heard we had Michael as a person we were looking after, our son, they said, ‘Well, no. You can’t go into a retirement village because he’s 38 and we don’t cater for anyone that young.’
“They told us their hands are tied due to the fact [in] the act that governs retirement villages, there’s a proviso … to not have anyone under a certain age — I think it’s 55 — to go into that retirement village.”
Michael has right-side hemiplegia after sustaining a brain injury before birth. He cannot use his right arm, walks with a limp, has epilepsy and a restricted field of vision, and the family receives support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Michael has been working since he graduated from school for Orana, which provides people living with disability the opportunity to live and work in their community.
“He showers OK and he can dress himself, but he certainly can’t live by himself, so he’s essentially going to have to be in some sort of care with someone,” Mr Warren said.
“It’s not like you’re trying to bring in some son or daughter who lives with you. There are some real reasons why he’s with us and will remain with us for the foreseeable future.
“If I was to pass on, I don’t want my wife left with the burden that comes with living by yourself with Michael, and all the extra work it entails for him.
“I’m at my wit’s end about it.”
Minister to step in
Mr Warren said they had received some assistance from their local member of Parliament, Blair Boyer, but were still seeking a resolution.
Minister for Human Services, Seniors and Ageing Well Nat Cook said the Retirement Villages Act did not stipulate that people needed to be 55 and over to live in a village, nor did it specify an organisation had to allow somebody younger.
“What is required is discretion and decency on behalf of operators and community,” she said.
“Basically, you can have your head tenant, your person who is purchasing the property, which is, of course what retirement villages are for, over 55.
“But some have got younger spouses who live with them, and I know there are people with older children.”
Ms Cook said she had visited retirement villages and met families looking after adult children with multiple types of disability.
“I’m happy to meet with Paul and we can continue that conversation with other operators we’re connected to,” she said.
The Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill, which seeks to increase consumer protection, strengthen standards from village operators and staff, and increase overall transparency is currently before the SA Parliament.
As part of that reform, Ms Cook said she was happy to look at what the act said in relation to the age of people living in retirement villages.
But she believed Mr Warren’s issues were likely due to “interpretations, discretion, and decency” on the part of village operators.
“Sometimes if you’re approaching places and you’re pushed back and you’re given some sort of excuse, I’m not sure it’s the place I’d want to live,” Ms Cook said.