If you are under the age of 65 and depending on the level of home care package you already receive or whether you are currently in residential aged care, you may be eligible to get assistance from the NDIS. The additional assistance and support from these for services can help you to live the life you deserve.
What does this mean?
Your choices
If you are currently living in residential aged care and you want to look at living in the community, begin by talking to a local area coordinator (LAC) or a Support Coordinator. These people will help you create a plan of the services that are most appropriate to your needs by discussing your current situation, existing support and goals to improve your quality of life. Your plan will need approval from the National Disabilities Insurance Agency (NDIA) before moving forward to implementing your plan.
More information about what will be discussed in your plan will be found in our blog NDIS Webinar Series Part 1: Developing and Starting Your First Plan.
If LAC partners are not available in your area, the NDIA might fund a Support Coordinator in your NDIS plan.
If you are staying in residential aged care, NDIS may assist you with some care-related costs charged by the aged care provider excluding daily living expenses.
By discussing your home care package with your coordinator, you will be able to choose which services you need as well as the nitty gritty of what NDIS can assist with. A general overview of the home support services can be found at myagedcare but they fall in one of two areas – living at home and living your life.
Being safe at home
Depending on the level of care you want, NDIS will assist with the following;
- Essential equipment and assistive technology – this includes walking frames, ramps, rails or the specialised equipment you require so you can enjoy your home environment safely.
- Personal Care – it’s a well-known fact that when you look good, you feel great so you can include assistance with dressing, showering, grooming and hygiene in your package. You will need to supply your own products to use but who knows what you like better than you.
- Meal preparation and dietary guidance – can be of great value if you enjoy staying active at home. Choosing the best menu for the week and additional tasks such as washing, chopping, cooking and storage of your meals, having a helping hand never goes astray. Who knows, a new face in your kitchen might lead you to new adventures with food.
- Basic home cleaning and laundry – these are not everyone’s favourite chores so inclusion in your package is ideal; you can be as active as you wish or choose to leave it all to a service. Regular maintenance or essential modifications in your garden may be needed to keep you safe while outside your home so you may be able to incorporate this as part of your plan.
- Medical requirements – can be assisted by NDIS. For example, paying for the cost for a nurse who assists with medication and wound management. Other essential medical services such as Allied Health and therapy services including podiatry, physiotherapy, speech or occupational therapy or specialised support for an individual need eg. therapy dog, may be negotiable in your home care package.
Staying active
Transport for certain types of outings are accessible through your home care package if you schedule ahead. Generally travelling to and from medical, school or job appointments are funded through the NDIS. However, you might find Community Transport is available to you at a reduced rate or subsidised by another provider, if it is not already included in your home care package. It pays to check with your coordinator about the options available if you wish to be more mobile.
Thinking about what you want to do outside of your home will make finding a new passion or continuing with the familiar activities more enjoyable. The NDIS will assist you with the costs of social support services to maintain access to your family and friends, community-based group or one-on-one accompanied activities. Even though you will have to pay for your own tickets or passes, using a social support service is a great way to meet new people and even put a regular movie fest on your schedule.
ConnectAbility is a registered NDIS provider and we are to here to help and assist you in getting the most out of your current plan, and empower you to reach your goals, dreams and aspirations.