95-year-old carer struggles to secure help for son

Ros Collins, a 95-year-old from Melbourne, is fighting for better care for her son, Dan, who has a brain injury. Dan turned 65 while recovering in the hospital from meningitis. Collins says he has ambitions and contributes to the community, but the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rejected their application for support because he was not enrolled before his birthday. Despite being in need, Dan was classified only for aged care support, which does not meet his needs. The family is struggling financially, relying on Dan's small pension, while waiting for a home care package that might take a year to become available. Collins has reached out to various government officials, but has received little help. She feels that the NDIS rules are outdated and unfair, especially for older Australians with disabilities. Research shows that older applicants face higher rejection rates, and women are more likely to be denied support compared to men. Feeling frustrated, Collins recalled former Prime Minister Julia Gillard's speech introducing the NDIS, emphasizing compassion in policy. She hopes others will advocate for fairness in system implementation, as she continues to fight for her son's care.