Greater care is needed for a generation of ageing Australians placed in institutional or out-of-home care as children, according to new research from Flinders University.
The study, Safe and Inclusive Aged Care for Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers, suggests returning to institutionalised care facilities later in life can potentially be a traumatising experience for those with childhood experiences in orphanages, missions or homes run by Governments, charities, religious groups and other organisations.
Flinders University’s Dr Monica Cations says there are more than 500,000 Forgotten Australians who would potentially be retraumatised by returning to care facilities.
“Thanks to ongoing advocacy from the Forgotten Australians we know that their childhood experiences in orphanages, missions or homes run by Government, charities, religious groups and other organisations, were marked by neglect, abuse and human rights violations,” she said.
The study provides a suite of recommendations, including:
- Ensuring everyone in the sector is aware of the existence of Forgotten Australians
- Implement elements of trauma informed care
- Avoid making assumptions about family
- Maximise information sharing between services
- Renaming aged care facilities or units that have the same names as former orphanages, missions, institutions or children’s homes
- Involve the individual in every decision made about their care
- Clear communication
- Always using individual’s preferred name
- Reliable and transparent working practices
- Maintaining access to psychological and counselling services
