Source: The Brisbane Courier Mail [Daniels Knowles]

"...MORE than 100 young disabled people are languishing in aged-care nursing homes in Queensland. Among them are three residents under 29 years and seven between 30 and 39 years - at least half the age of the average resident in their mid-80s..."

There are just three specially-run homes for disabled young people in Queensland. For those who miss out, aged-care nursing homes are the only accommodation option.

Dr Bronwyn Morkham, a spokeswoman for lobby group Young People in Nursing Homes, said the 120 disabled residents were on the equivalent of "the medical system's death row". She said nursing homes could not cope with young people who needed special help and rehabilitation.

In March, 1298 disabled Queenslanders in aged-care homes were younger than the normal admission age of 65.

"We have seen a massive increase in the past few months," Dr Morkham said. She said aged-care homes could not deal with young people's needs.

"They are younger, bigger and need more rehabilitation."

For young people in need, it is a classic case of slipping between the bureaucratic cracks.

Disability services are provided by the State Government, but aged care by the Federal Government.

As soon as disabled people enter a nursing home, they slide from the state's view and are treated as aged. Many young residents have neurological conditions.

Muscular dystrophy sufferer Leanne Heness lives in fear that her condition will decline to the point where she will end up in a nursing home and subsequently lose her child.

"I was in a state of remission for the first 27 years of my life," Mrs Heness said.

"I had my only daughter, Dominique, and I was in a wheelchair very quickly (after).

"The threat of living in a nursing home was never on my mind. Now it is an ever-present thought. It's very scary.

"My greatest fear is losing my daughter, not seeing her grow up."

Dr Morkham said in some states the situation was so bad some parents were dropping their disabled children off at respite centres and never returning.

In another case, one young man in aged care has seen seven older men die in his ward in the past 18 months.

In most areas, nursing homes are the only option for the physical care many disabled young people need.

Aged Care Queensland chief executive David Angell said nursing homes were not designed to house young disabled people.

"We don't think that's the most appropriate accommodation for these young people," Mr Angell said.

State Disability Services Minister Warren Pitt said the Government was working to get young people out of aged care homes.

"There are no easy answers but the Government is fully committed to creating more inclusive communities for people with a disability," he said.

DANIEL KNOWLES