Summer Housing provides aged care escape for young people
COVID-19 has transformed aged-care facilities across Melbourne into a place few would want to call home.
But the latest federal government figures show almost 1600 Victorians aged 18-65 have little other choice, with complex care needs forcing them into such residences.
And while new initiatives between Melbourne developers and not-for-profit groups like Summer Housing are opening alternatives, there are fears the virus could limit the novel intervention.
Linked to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Summer Housing is one of several groups buying apartments in soon-to-be built complexes around Melbourne to give those with complex care needs a chance at an ordinary life and independence.
But despite having 60 new units under construction across the city today, they are now worried their clients will have fewer choices in the near future as off-the-plan project approvals tumble due to the virus.
Summer Housing chief executive Dan McLennan says they have recently bought 11 apartments at Cedar Woods’ Huntington Apartments, including 10 for those with complex care needs and one for an in-building assistant.
But they have watched others they wanted to buy into fall short as buyers baulked in the face of COVID-19.
“We are cheering on the developer to secure sales from people who will never know us, but are helping the project to proceed,” he says.
The Huntington Apartments at the Jackson Green development by Cedar Woods.
Currently they have apartments available or under construction in Fairfield, Oakleigh, Southbank, Docklands, Abbotsford, West Melbourne, Heidelberg and Williamstown.
While not widely known about, the model helps young Australians escape nursing homes. “But also people who are living with mum and dad but are well above the age where they would want to do that … or are living in hospital,” Mr McLennan said.
They target new developments which provide lifts and fire sprinklers built in, but also allow them to make subtle but important changes to units.
These range from adjusted bench and sink heights or home automation controlled by smart devices and voice, to systems that allow residents to call for help from a building-based carer.
Those moving into Summer Housing properties pay rent, but it is capped at 25% of their disability support pension, and any rental assistance they receive.
“It is usually equivalent to social housing, with the balance from the NDIS,” McLennan says.
Cedar Woods Victorian state manager Lloyd Collins says he is proud to be working with Summer Housing and expects more developers will turn to them and similar operators.
“It’s important that our young Australians have an opportunity to live an independent life, and 11 pre-sales to Summer Housing also helped us to get the Huntington Apartments under construction — and that really is win-win,” Collins says.
“I expect it’s going to be a growing market, we would certainly look forward to doing more deals with Summer Housing and other providers.”
However, he warns that with pre-sales having slowed across much of the development industry as a result of COVID-19, there “must have a knock-on effect to what gets delivered in 18 months time”.
The Huntington Apartments have 165 units in total and construction will be completed mid next year, with the Summer Housing apartments to be scattered throughout the building.
This article from the Herald Sun originally appeared as “Summer Housing: How young people can get out of aged care”.
