The Canberra Times is reporting that the 176-bed St Andrews Village facility was one of three facilities that had allegedly prevented ACT Human Rights Commission officials from checking up on residents.

There are 17 aged care facilities in Canberra with 57 people with a disability aged under 65 years, and officials went to see 39 residents during 15 visits in 2016-17.

But St Andrews Village acting executive director Muhammad Syed told the paper the facility has no disabled residents under 65, had never stopped an official visitor from entering and would welcome an official visit.

Around 6,500 younger people with disability are in aged care homes, occupying about 5% of residential aged care beds nationally, according to the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance.

Some have progressive diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, while others have had brain or spinal cord injuries, strokes and heart attacks. The Alliance also reports that many people with disabilities end up in aged care because their parents or carer becomes too old or ill to keep caring for them.