Turning 65 does not end your NDIS plan. It opens a choice, and that choice deserves careful thought. At Nursed Care, our registered nurses support participants who are ageing with disability, helping them stay in familiar homes, keep their routines, and receive skilled care as needs quietly change over time.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Turning 65 does not remove you from the NDIS.
- You choose between NDIS and aged care, not both.
- Moving permanently into residential aged care ends NDIS eligibility.
- NDIS funding is not means tested.
What Actually Happens at 65
This is the question we are asked most often, and the answer surprises many families. The NDIS states plainly that you can stay on the NDIS once you turn 65, provided you became a participant before your 65th birthday. Your plan does not expire. Your reviews continue on the same schedule.
What the birthday creates is an option. You may continue with the NDIS exactly as before, or you may move across to the aged care system. You cannot draw on both at once. For most participants living in the community, nothing changes unless they actively choose to change it.
There is one firm exception. If a participant moves permanently into a residential aged care home for the first time after turning 65, they must leave the scheme. That is a legal requirement rather than a discretionary decision, and it is not reversible. Families deserve to understand this well before the situation arrives, not during a hospital discharge meeting.
Why the Decision Carries Weight
The two systems were built for different purposes, and the funding reflects that. NDIS supports are assessed on disability need and are not means tested. Aged care operates as a subsidy model, assessed on age and care need, with contributions based on income and assets.
Before deciding, consider:
- Whether your supports are disability related or age related.
- How your funding level compares across both systems.
- Whether specialist disability supports have an aged care equivalent.
- That leaving the NDIS after 65 is generally permanent.
Once you exit, returning is not straightforward. Analysis in the Australian Journal of Social Issues notes the original intent was that the NDIS could become a lifetime scheme for those who preferred it, with no disruption simply because a participant reached pension age. Understanding that principle helps families resist unnecessary pressure to move.
Ageing With Disability Is Increasingly Common
The numbers are substantial. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, half of all people aged 65 and over live with disability. Researchers at the Australian National University projected that more than 105,000 Australians aged over 65 would be eligible for NDIS support by 2026. That year has arrived, and the cohort continues to grow.
Advocacy body People with Disability Australia has raised concern that current rules can leave older Australians with disability in distress while they seek alternative support. Sector commentary in Australian Ageing Agenda likewise describes the boundary between the two systems as one that has never been clean. Skilled guidance matters precisely because the rules are not intuitive.
Care That Adapts as Needs Change
Ageing with disability rarely announces itself. Mobility narrows. Medication regimens grow. Fatigue arrives earlier in the day. Supports that suited a participant at 55 may not suit them at 70, even though the underlying disability has not changed.
Good care anticipates this. Nurse led support means clinical changes are noticed early, before they become hospital admissions. It means medication is managed properly, wounds are monitored, and complex needs are met at home rather than in a facility.
Research examining healthy ageing for people with intellectual disabilities confirms an important point. Participants who remain on the NDIS after 65 may use their funding to meet age related support needs, not only disability related ones. That flexibility is often overlooked.
NDIS care and support services at Nursed Care cover personal care, complex nursing, dementia support and daily assistance, delivered by qualified staff. For carers feeling the strain, respite care for carers protect everyone. If cost is the immediate question, NDIS respite care rates sets out the current figures clearly.
Practical Steps for Families
Begin the conversation early, ideally a year or more before the 65th birthday. Speak with your support coordinator. Ask how your current plan compares with what aged care would offer for identical needs. Gather evidence from allied health professionals about changing capacity. Above all, make the decision deliberately rather than allowing a crisis to make it for you.
Keep good records as you go. Note when supports were adjusted and why, and hold onto assessments from occupational therapists, physiotherapists and treating doctors. This paperwork does more than satisfy an administrator. It builds a clear picture of a person whose needs are genuinely disability related, which strengthens every plan review that follows and removes much of the anxiety from the process.
Conclusion
Ageing with disability should never mean losing the care that works. With the right provider, participants can remain at home, keep their independence, and receive skilled nursing as needs evolve. To discuss your options with our experienced team, contact us today and request a free consultation.
