The old saying explains that a person’s home is their castle. As an NDIS participant, you have the right to live comfortably and safely in a home of your choosing. If you are looking to gain independence, then consider supported independent living. This article explains how the NDIS can provide you with supported independent living funding.
What is Supported Independent Living?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a program for people with disabilities. Through the NDIS, people with disabilities are provided with funding to arrange services deemed reasonable and necessary.
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an NDIS support type. Supported independent living is help and/or supervision of daily tasks to enable participants to live as independently as possible, while building their skills.
NDIS participants eligible for supported independent living receive support services at home or in the community.
NDIS participants who have been assessed as eligible for supported independent living services may live alone or with other people.
SIL is a good choice for people with high support needs. Some people in SIL have access to support 24/7, including with overnight support.
What are the benefits of Supported Independent Living?
There are many benefits of choosing SIL, because it enables a person to maintain or increase their independence. Other benefits include:
- Improved self-confidence and self-esteem in being empowered to carry out household tasks
- Improved wellbeing, physical and mental health
- A significant amount of cost savings
- Risk management, safety and support for complex medical needs
- Avoiding having to find a private rental
Who is Supported Independent Living accommodation for?
Supported independent living services are typically provided to people with significant or complex disabilities, or very high care needs.
People who live in SIL homes may not have carers of family members who can meet their care needs.
This can include people with a diagnosis of:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Intellectual disability
- Mental illness
- Physical disability
- Complex psychosocial and cognitive disorders
What types of accommodation are there?
There are many different types of accommodation to provide living support to meet your needs and enable you to live as independently as possible.
Supported Independent Living often refers to units or apartments in a group. A support coordinator and support workers visit your unit as often as required.
In many cases, support workers do not stay overnight. They may visit first thing in the morning to help you get ready, and assist you with going to bed.
There are other options such as group homes, where several people with disabilities live in the same house. Residents in group homes have their own rooms, but share the kitchen, bathroom and living areas. A support worker may visit often, or stay in the house with you to provide overnight support.
Boarding houses and hostels are also options – there are typically lower levels of care provided in these settings.
Independent living options for people with disabilities
Many independent living apartments and houses have been built especially for people with disabilities.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SGA) is a separate type of NDIS funding stream. In many SGA homes you will find accessible features such as:
- Wide corridors for wheelchairs
- Hoists and personal care equipment
- Lower benchtops
- Easy to operate assistive technology
What can supported independent living provide?
SIL is all about helping you to find a living arrangement that makes you feel confident, comfortable and independent.
Participants accessing SIL will be able to receive the type of support and level of support that suits them. A number of NDIS-funded supports can be delivered through SIL, including daily tasks like:
- Home help
- Assistance with cooking and meal preparation
- Personal care supports
- Transport and travel for appointments and social groups
- Nursing care and help with medications
Skills for independent living
Supported independent living is not just about arranging a roof over your head. Support staff will be available to help you with many other aspects of life you find difficult, or would like to improve. Other services can be arranged to enable you to feel happy and connected with your community.
Your support worker will help you take care of your home and belongings, and contribute to carrying out the chores involved with living in a shared house.
They can assist you with planning and preparing meals, and managing your budget.
Shared living support needs
Many people find they need some assistance when it comes to shared living. A support worker can help people who are sharing a home to plan and make decisions that impact the whole household.
Support staff can also help individuals to improve their capacity to complete everyday tasks, respect house rules and handle any conflict should it arise.
Selecting a new home and provider
Once you have been approved for SIL through your NDIS plan, you can select a provider. A roster of care (ROC) will be set up. Your service provider will fill in the ROC with a significant amount of information about the supports they deliver to meet your support needs and goals.
The NDIA uses this information to understand what a typical week may look like for you in your supported accommodation.
How much does independent living cost?
How much your supported independent living services will cost depends on many factors such as:
- If you will live alone or with others
- The level of support you need
- How frequently you need assistance, and with what tasks
- What other NDIS funds supports you have in place
Your provider must ensure that service bookings and payment requests align with your plan funding and are in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Providers must be NDIS accredited and must be familiar with the NDIS Code of Conduct.
Does the NDIS fund independent living?
Supported Independent Living funding is provided and detailed under ‘Core Supports’ in your NDIS plan.
The SIL funding you receive will depend on the type of support you need. Make sure you discuss your needs and preferences with your support coordinator. They will work with you to find the best accommodation options for you.
Can older people seek independent living?
There are many options for older people who wish to downsize. Independent living units are often set up as part of retirement villages. Older people can not receive funding for accommodation through the NDIS. If an older person needs some help at home or wants to move to a nursing home, it is best to arrange an assessment through My Aged Care.
Nursed Care for NDIS supported independent living SIL
Nursed Care is a fully NDIS-accredited and registered service provider located in New South Wales. We are based in Parramatta but provide services to NDIS participants right around the metropolitan area. Contact us to learn more about our:
- Supported independent living options
- Specialist disability accommodation options
- Short or medium-term accommodation or temporary housing for respite or medical purposes
We are currently expanding our property options, so call to learn more about securing your ideal living space in the Sydney area.
Frequently asked questions
The first step in accessing supported independent living SIL or specialist disability accommodation SDA, you will need to be assessed for the NDIS. There are eligibility requirements to become an NDIS participant.
To be able to move into supported independent living or specialist disability accommodation, you will need to have this type of funding approved on your NDIS plan.
Sometimes, it can take a little while to find somewhere that will be suitable. An assessment will be carried out to make sure the home has the equipment and setup you require.
Most supported independent living arrangements involve sharing a home with one or more other people. There are fewer spaces available for people who want to live on their own.
You get to have a say on who you will live with. People of a similar age or with similar interests will be matched.
Sharing a house with others can be strange at first, but many people soon enjoy the experience of having housemates.
Living with other people can help you to make new friends and share experiences together, in a supportive environment. You can enjoy living as independently as possible, with other NDIS participants, in the comfort of your own home.
Staff in SIL homes are very familiar with supporting people with extreme functional impairment and have experience in managing challenging behaviours.
People who need high levels of care can also be supported to living independently, and may have particular services funded individually. Specific care needs and higher care entitlements should be discussed with the support coordinator.
People with high-level support needs may be able to use SDA funding to receive active assistance and high-level support with the tasks of daily living.
Yes – it’s your home and your family and friends will be able to visit you. We can help you plan for visits from your loved ones.
Many of our supported independent living options have comfortable shared living areas and pleasant outdoor spaces like gardens and decking.
