Everything you need to know about accessing respite care through the NDIS
NDIS Respite Care and Short Term Accommodation is one of the vital disability support services offered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Giving people stability and consistent care is incredibly important, and one of the core reasons why short-term care is offered.
Short term accommodation allows participants to stay in a different place for a short time. During this period, the participant can undertake new experiences, while their usual carers get a break.
If you’re looking for better Short Term Accommodation and Respite Care, get in touch with HealSoul. We can put you in touch with some of the best living situations outside of your regular home. You can get started today with a free consultation with our team.
What is NDIS Respite Care and Short Term Accommodation?
NDIS Short Term Accommodation and Respite Care allows participants to find supported accommodation away from their usual home. Short-term care allows people to stay at external accommodation with others or by themselves for up to 14 days.
Included in short term accommodation are all the comforts and services you would receive at home, whether from your carer or the NDIS. These include:
- Personal care like grooming, toileting, basic first aid, and assistance using aids and in mobility
- Accommodation including private accommodation, shared accommodation, and use of communal living spaces
- Food including assistance in preparing food and in eating and drinking
- Activities like community engagement, social activities, attending appointments, and group and individual therapy
The exact mix of what kinds of support you’ll receive will depend on your plan. The NDIS delivers support based on what will give participants the greatest level of independence in their lives, both at home and in short term accommodation.
How does NDIS Respite Care and Short Term Accommodation work?
The NDIS funds up to 28 days of Short Term Accommodation a year – which is entirely flexible in how it can be delivered. For example, a participant might choose to take a short stay away from home for several weekends over a year, or through two 2-week stints.
Applying for Short Term Accommodation
Participants of the NDIS can apply for Short Term Accommodation or respite care to be included in their NDIS plan. The NDIS will need to understand whether accommodation funding will:
- Be related to your disability
- Help you pursue your goals
- Help you participate in the community
- Offer value for money
- Support your family and carers
If it is related to your disability support needs, the NDIS may fund accommodation if your family cannot support you for longer, you can maintain a functional capacity, you can increase your independence, and you can do more activities.
When it comes to assessing value for money, the NDIS will look at how the accommodation will benefit you over time. The NDIS rarely offers individual support in a short-term setting. If you can share your support with others, the NDIS will likely investigate this as an option.
What the NDIS won’t fund
While the NDIS can help with some crises related to living situations – say if you find yourself in an unsafe or dangerous situation at home – the NDIS will not fund Short Term Accommodation if:
- It is longer term accommodation that is really a day-to-day living cost
- It is related to other reasons, like waiting for renovations or modifications
- It is related to the housing crisis situations
Putting Short Term Accommodation in your plan
You don’t need to put funding for NDIS Short Term Accommodation and Respite Care in your plan. If accommodation helps you pursue your goals, you can use your Core support budget.
If you’d like to learn more about how to include Short Term Accommodation in your plan, talk to your local area coordinator, support coordinator, or HealSoul. We can take a look at your personal situation and make recommendations.
Why is NDIS Respite Care and Short Term Accommodation important?
Short term accommodation is incredibly important because it offers consistency. It is very difficult to deliver quality care outside of the home while trying to give a participant the same level of assistance that they deserve. Short term accommodation aims to fill this gap, and continually assist people in finding their own sense of independence, regardless of where they are.
The second reason why short-term accommodation is important is that family and other regular carers sometimes need a break. Assisting people living with disabilities can be a physically and emotionally taxing time, not to mention how many hours assistance involves. When regular carers need a holiday or some time to attend to personal matters, short term accommodation steps in.
Finally, a short-term stint away from home can also assist participants as they:
- Develop new skills
- Try new things
- Make new connections
These are all important personal and social milestones that the NDIS is geared towards helping people achieve. Participants can hit these milestones faster and with greater support while receiving the same level of care outside of the home.
How HealSoul can help
HealSoul has been putting NDIS participants in touch with better Short Term Accommodation for years. We know how the support applies to your specific situation and can make recommendations on what you need to live a better lifestyle.
Our primary focus is assisting you in achieving your goals while offering you a more independent way of living. We always strive to deliver disability support with the NDIS using the highest levels of respect. Our disability support workers are highly trained and professional, and have been hand-picked for their compassion.
Get in touch with HealSoul today to find better access to Short Term Accommodation and Respite Care. We’ll work with you from the very beginning to ensure that you are fully supported whether at home or away. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation.
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