Things to Know About Supported Independent Living
If one of your goals now is to live independently even with your disability and know you need some assistance, you may consider supported independent living. SIL is a program that a disability care provider, such as the United For Care, offers individuals with mental or physical disabilities.
Professional support workers will provide you with assistance on your daily tasks every day. The support you get is tailored according to your individual needs, goals, abilities, and lifestyle because not all NDIS members have the same conditions.
What is supported independent living?
Independent living refers to an older adult or a person with a disability who is allowed to decide on the level of support they should receive, including with whom, how, and where they would live. The program covers all NDIS participants regardless of disability, gender, and age. Supported independent living comes with various home support options that you may acquire within a specified budget. Keep in mind that NDIS usually covers the essential costs of supported independent living, which means you will not run out of home and care support.
Supported independent living helps you with everyday tasks such as:
- Going to appointments
- Personal care like dressing and showering
- Cooking and nutrition
- Laundry and cleaning
- Taking up a hobby
- Taking medication
- Help to manage household budgeting and other money matters
- Learning to catch and ride public transport
Considering that every illness and impairment is different, each person with a disability has different requirements for support. In general, there are primary levels of home support as per the National Disability Insurance Scheme guidelines:
Higher support needs
This service typically involves active support round the clock. It includes managing challenging physical and mental conditions as well as difficult behaviours that appropriate support and help with day to day tasks.
Standard support needs
This is a kind of support that is available 24 hours a day. The support assistance usually sleeps overnight.
Lower support needs
This SIL level of support involves assistance with the living arrangements whenever necessary, which means not all day and night.
Supported Independent Living Accommodation
A trusted care provider such as United For Care will work with you to explore different SIL accommodation options. They will take into consideration your closeness to family, proximity to transportation and other local services, functionality, accessibility, your choice of location, and other things that are essential to you. They understand and respect that the living arrangement you want is a personal decision. This includes choosing between living with a few other individuals and living alone by yourself.
When it comes to shared accommodation, there is a range of properties to select from, including houses, apartments, and villas. Inform them what you want or not want in a housemate, and the care provider will get you matched with others who have similar interests and are likely to get along with your personality.
Whatever accommodation you pick, your care provider will offer support where you need it, for example, home modifications. Keeping your disability in mind, the provider will make sure your home will have height-adjustable tables, bathroom handrails, etc., giving you the perfect home solution.
When deciding to move toward supported independent living, the staff at the disability care provider, such as the United For Care, will talk through important things with you to address any concerns and questions you may have. This is because they want you to make the best decision regarding your transition to independent living.