Disability support needs don’t always change suddenly. A routine might become harder over several months. An informal carer may have less capacity than before. Small gaps in support can start to affect meals, hygiene, appointments or safety at home.
These changes are often easy to miss when they happen slowly. Spotting the pattern early gives the participant and their support network more time to record what’s happening, talk it through and consider the right next steps, rather than reacting in a crisis.
This guide covers the signs that a disability home care arrangement may need review, how to record what’s happening, and who to speak with.
Signs the current arrangement may need review
Every person’s situation is different, but changes worth discussing may include:
- Personal care being missed or rushed, such as showering, dressing or grooming
- Difficulty planning or preparing meals, or relying more on takeaway or skipped meals
- More falls, near-misses or concerns about mobility around the home
- Medication routines becoming harder to manage
- Household tasks building up, such as laundry, cleaning or shopping
- Appointments being missed or forgotten
- Less contact with friends, family or the community
- Family members or informal carers providing more support than they can keep up
One difficult day doesn’t mean a support arrangement is unsuitable. Everyone has days when things don’t go to plan. What matters more is a pattern: issues that keep happening, risks that are increasing, or a clear change from the person’s usual level of function.
Record what’s actually happening
When support needs change, specific information is far more useful than general statements. “Mum is struggling” is hard to act on. “Mum has needed help getting out of the shower four times this fortnight, and on two occasions she waited over an hour for family to arrive” gives everyone a clear picture.
For each task that’s becoming harder, try to note:
- What the task is
- How often support is needed
- What happens when assistance isn’t available
- How long the task now takes
- Whether there are new risks, such as falls, missed medication or skipped meals
- Whether informal supports have changed, for example a carer returning to work, moving away or managing their own health
A simple diary or notes on a phone over a few weeks can be very helpful. Reports from health professionals, such as an occupational therapist, physiotherapist or GP, may also help explain how the changes affect daily life.
Review the participant’s goals and preferences
When things become harder at home, it’s natural to assume the answer is more support. But more hours aren’t always the only option, or the one the person wants.
The participant may prefer:
- Different timing, such as support in the morning instead of the afternoon
- More consistency, with the same support workers each week
- Assistive technology or equipment that makes tasks safer or easier
- Skill-building to help them regain or keep independence
- A change in who provides support
The conversation should start with the person: what they want daily life to look like, what matters most to them and what they’d like to keep doing for themselves. Their choices should guide any changes to their in-home assistance.
Speak with the right people
Depending on the participant’s circumstances, helpful people to talk with may include:
- A Support Coordinator
- A plan manager
- An allied health professional, such as an occupational therapist
- A nominee or trusted family member
- The NDIS, through the participant’s NDIS contact
A provider can explain the services it offers and give service information to support these conversations. However, a provider can’t guarantee that the NDIS will fund a particular support. Funding decisions are made by the NDIA based on the participant’s individual circumstances, plan and evidence.
Consider whether In-Home Care is still the right fit
For many people, scheduled In-Home Care is still the right option. If the participant can continue to live safely in their current home with suitable support, adjusting in-home assistance may be enough. That could mean changing the timing, focus or consistency of support.
Sometimes support needs become much more intensive, for example when someone regularly needs help overnight. In that case, the participant and their team may need to explore other arrangements, which could include Supported Independent Living (SIL). That’s a significant decision. It needs individual assessment and planning, and it should always involve the participant’s own goals and preferences.
Taking the next step
If you’ve noticed changes at home, you don’t need to have all the answers before starting a conversation. Recording what’s happening, thinking about what the person wants and speaking with the right people are strong first steps.
DisabilityCo has been an NDIS-registered provider since 2018. We provide In-Home Care and Supported Independent Living across Melbourne, and we’re happy to talk with participants, families and Support Coordinators about what support could look like.
To discuss service availability without assuming a funding outcome, submit an enquiry at https://disabilityco.com/enquiry-qualifying-form-disabilityco/ or call us on 03 7037 1949.