The number of younger people (aged under 65) living in Australian residential aged care facilities has dropped by 20%, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

Around 3,700 people aged under 65 were RAC residents in September 2021, down from almost 4,600 one year prior, the AIHW report said. Additionally, people under 45 in RAC dropped by 24%, from 120 to 91, and people aged under 65 entering RAC fell 30% to 151.

According to AIHW spokesperson Louise York, every state and territory saw a decline in younger aged care residents between 2020 and 2021.

“The Australian Government has set targets to have no people under the age of 45 living in residential aged care by 2022, and under the age of 65 by 2025 (other than in exceptional circumstances), through the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Strategy 2020–25, released in September 2020.

“The goal of the Strategy is to reduce the number of younger people entering residential aged care and support those already living in residential aged care to move into age-appropriate accommodation with the supports they need,” she said.