When it comes to choosing NDIS housing, there are a lot of options. Making an informed decision about where you live and who you live with can help ensure you receive the right support services and quality care for an independent life.
Accommodation in the National Disability Insurance Scheme
The National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS is the primary support network for people with disabilities in Australia. NDIS participants have permanent disability and need assistance with daily tasks. Through the NDIS, participants form an NDIS plan which outlines their unique needs and specific requirements for services and supports. Participants receive funding to purchase the different types of assistant that they need to improve their quality of life.
The different types of accommodation and housing support funded by the NDIS are:
Specialist Disability Accommodation SDA
Medium Term Accommodation
Respite care or short term accommodation
Selecting Specialist Disability Accommodation
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a type of NDIS funding and support for people with significant and complex support requirements. SDA funding is used to cover costs associated with living in a specially designed and fully accessible dwelling that has amenities constructed to the highest standard. SDA homes must be built to be compliant with national codes and standards. SDA homes must meet criteria so that they:
are providing high physical support, with equipment and technologies
are fully accessible for people who use wheelchairs or frames
deliver improved liveability
are robust, so that you can easily navigate a wheelchair through the home
NDIS participants who are eligible for SDA housing may have many functional challenges. When considering an SDA home, it is essential that you check that the home has all the amenities required to meet an individual’s specific needs. Specialist disability equipment can include hoists, lifts, wide hallways and open plan bathrooms. Check these features to ensure you have the right Specialist Disability Accommodation SDA design category ratings.
Selecting independent living accommodation
Supported Independent Living through the NDIS is suitable for people with disabilities who have a little more independence but can still benefit from access to some assistance. A care worker supports residents to live independently and assists with daily tasks as required.
When looking at options for supported independent living, you should also check the accessibility features of the home, including assistive technology or home modifications.
NDIS accommodation considerations - location
When trying to choose your ideal NDIS accommodation, one essential factor to consider is location. The location of your home can impact your well being and mobility. If you live in an area you are familiar with, you may be more likely to have the confidence to get out and about. Location can be important if you want to remain close to your family, or familiar medical facilities and preferred healthcare providers.
A home that is conveniently located will make it easier for you to maintain connections with the community. If you use public transport, it makes sense to consider finding a home that is well serviced by buses and trams.
NDIS accommodation considerations - seeking a new start
In some cases, people prefer to find accommodation in an area that is new to them. Moving to a new area can be exciting, and provide you with new opportunities to access learning, volunteering or work experiences. Some people choose to fully embrace a change and new home. NDIS housing can be found right across the metropolitan area so it pays to keep an open mind about where you will live and the accommodation providers you will use.
NDIS accommodation considerations - who to live with
The people you live with can significantly impact your accommodation experience. With NDIS accommodation services, it is very common for a couple of NDIS participants to live together. Living with other people can have many benefits. It can help you feel a sense of friendship, companionship and camaraderie.
You will have other people to share interests and hobbies with. Each person has their own bedroom but housemates can get together at meal times or for recreation. Shared living spaces can be used for watching movies, listening to music or playing games. Families can also visit and enjoy time spent together.
NDIS accommodation considerations - sharing support services
Another benefit of shared living arrangements is that is creates the opportunity to share living support services. Support workers can provide appropriate care to meet each person’s needs. They can also be there at busy times of day to provide personal care and help everyone get up, dressed and ready for the day. Staff can provide the necessary support at meal time, and help get everyone to bed at the end of the day. It can be more cost efficient to share support services in this way, and each person can receive the help they need.
NDIS accommodation considerations - finding suitable housemates
When considering the type of accommodation that would suit you best, it’s important to think about who you might like to live with. In shared living arrangements through NDIS accommodation, it is useful to find housemates that you have something in common with. This could be that you seek to live with people of a similar age, at a similar stage in life, or from a similar cultural background.
You may be able to find housemates who have similar interests and enjoy doing the types of things you enjoy. Sharing an interest in the same types of music, movies, games or crafts gives you something to share with your housemates.
NDIS accommodation considerations - housing design
The style, floor plan, layout and features of an NDIS home should also all be considered. NDIS housing options should all be suitable for people with various types of disabilities. But there are some options you might want to consider. For example, does the home have all the safety features you need? Is the home single level or on two levels? Is there an entertaining area, or an area you can use for study?
Many NDIS homes also have an outdoor area, some with a garden, pergola or courtyard. Spaces like these offer improved livability and can help ensure a good quality of life for residents who live there.
Transition to new housing
Once you have chosen your new accessible accommodation, it is essential that a plan is put in place regarding your move. Your NDIS care plan will outline the services that you will continue to receive or will start to receive. A support worker or care plan manager can help ensure you understand and are prepared for a move and ready to live independently. You family may continue provide assistance and help you settle into your new housing and new community.
Nursed Care for support services
At Nursed Care, we offer a whole range of NDIS services to our clients who have diverse needs. Some of the range of services offered by Nursed Care include:
Personal care
Home care support services
Home maintenance
Home modifications
Medication support
Transport assistance
Community engagement and participation support
Nursed Care is the right choice, as your accessible service provider who:
prioritises safety and well being
ensures clients maintaining healthy relationships with their families
explains and ensures you have a clear understanding about your rights responsibilities
will modify services as requires to meet your specific needs
Choose Nursed Care for your preferred community assistance and support services provider. Contact us by this form or telephone to discuss your individualised living options.
Nursed Care for accommodation
As accredited NDIS providers, we also manage and maintain a range of properties used as accessible SDA homes or for short term accommodation. Nursed Care homes have been built and designed to a high quality, offering improved liveability and comfort. Nursed Care homes include assistive technology such as easy to operate air conditioning, and security monitoring.
Our homes boast desirable features tailored to provide comfort, safety, and independence, ensuring a superior living experience. We offer NDIS short term accommodation, in accessible dwellings, and provide assistance with daily living.
Related questions
Your home environment should be comfortable, familiar and safe. Having some of your personal belongings is one of the key factors in setting up your home. You can bring your own clothes and essentials with you to your SDA home. You can also bring things that are important to you like photographs, posters, and other items you want to have with you.
Depending on your circumstances, the NDIS will support medium or short term accommodation services for you. If you require respite accommodation, or are awaiting a move to somewhere more permanent, you can have help finding suitable housing. As these are short term accommodation options, you may not have as much flexibility to chose the type of house or the location.
You can learn more about NDIS short term accommodation on the NDIS website, where you will find a comprehensive guide to this service. The guide aims to explain what to expect from your short term accommodation. Short term accommodation or respite care covers stays of up to 14 days at a time.
