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Aged Care, Homelessness and Brain Injury

Alice Rota-Bartelink

Service providers have been frustrated with the lack in availability of specialised long-term supported accommodation for older people, particularly older homeless people, living with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and significant behaviours of unmet need. Although the incidence of ABI (particularly alcohol-related brain injury) is far wider than being confined to the homeless population, it is frequently misdiagnosed and very often misunderstood. Wintringham is an independent welfare company which provides secure, affordable, long-term accommodation and high quality services to older homeless people living in Australia. Over an eight-year period and two phases of a research project (Wicking I and Wicking II Projects), Wintringham has been at the forefront of developing an appropriate model of care to support these individuals. The Projects have investigated, designed, trialled and evaluated a purpose-designed ‘Specialised Model of Residential Care’ specifically aimed at providing long-term care and support to older homeless people who are also trying to manage the symptoms of an acquired brain injury.