Disability housing is an option for those living with a disability who may require more extensive, round the clock care. It includes adults (18+), children & teenagers living with disabilities. Its primary purpose is to provide safer, better, and more independent lives to the disabled or the aging. It includes both short- and medium-term accommodation plans made to suit the needs of your loved ones.
Choosing the best disability housing for your disabled or aging loved one takes time and research as there is a wide range of options available. The right choice will depend on several factors, including personal needs and preferences, expenses, and support needs.
This guide helps you pick the best disability housing option by outlining what’s available for you. Before that, let’s first look at the benefits of disability housing.
What are the Benefits of Disability Housing?
From enabling social support to promoting independence, the benefits of disability housing are countless, with some discussed below:
- Enabling social support: Seniors or disabled individuals living alone are at higher risk of social isolation and increased loneliness. This can lead to depression and a range of other health complications. Housing plans like respite care allow seniors or people living with a disability to connect with like-minded people and experts that provide the social support they need for a quality life.
- Promoting independence: Balancing safety and freedom is crucial to everyone. Disability housing provides your loved one with the ability to lead independent and safe lives.
- Delicious meals: Many seniors and people living with a disability find it hard to prepare delicious and healthy meals for themselves. Disability housing allows them to get well-prepared meals that fit their needs.
- Provides caregivers with a break: Some disability housing options, like respite care, provides caregivers with a break. It allows them to do something of their own – other than caring for the senior or disabled individual. Though caregivers can sometimes seem like superhumans, they, like everyone, need an opportunity to take a break and unwind with some time for themselves.
- More free time: Disability housing provides seniors and those living with a disability with the support they need to complete their daily tasks. In turn, this gives them more free time to do what they love the most.
The list of benefits is long. Each type of disability housing provides your aging and disabled loved ones with several advantages that make their lives independent, better, and more fun.
Let’s look at these types of disability housing, including what each one of them involves.
Types of Disability Housing
There are several types of disability housing, each created to suit the needs and preferences of the disabled or seniors. They include short-term accommodation, supported independent living, and supported disability accommodation, as discussed below;
Short-term Accommodation (respite care)
Previously known as respite care, short-term accommodation is a housing plan where a senior or NDIS Participant can take a short stay away from their usual home. It covers the cost of care in another place for up to 14 days. It gives your aging or disabled loved ones a chance to make friends, try new things, and gain new skills. What’s more, short-term accommodation provides the family members or caregivers a much-needed short break from their daily caring role.
What is included:
With short-term accommodation, your loved ones receive support from qualified and friendly staff. They also enjoy a wide range of activities in a supportive and safe environment, including:
- 24/7 support during respite period
- Nutritious meals
- Friendly support teams
- Fun activities
- Personal care
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
SIL is an NDIS funding initiative that aims to provide support to people living with disabilities and help them lead independent lives. It’s help or supervision with daily tasks that allows those living with disabilities to live independently while still building their skills.
With SIL, your loved one can live alone or with other like-minded people. They will also receive support with everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning, and personal care.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
SDA is a housing option that allows individuals with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment to get the support they need to lead everyday lives. It has accessible features required to help residents have better access to support in their homes and live more independently.
Specialist disability accommodation is individualized support, meaning it funds the modifications needed to make a home suitable for the needs of your aging or disabled loved one.
Important: SDA only caters to disabled individuals that need specialist housing solutions.
CORE
This NDIS-funded disability housing option allows individuals to complete daily activities and work towards their goals. Some examples of core support include transport and assistance with household tasks.
Individual Living Options (ILO)
This is a disability housing arrangement that focuses on individuals living with disabilities. They include Co-Residency, Living Together, Host Arrangements, and Living Alone options. This housing option is still in the pilot phase, meaning it’s not yet widely funded.
Disability Housing With OSAN Ability
Through NDIS, disability housing makes it possible for individuals living with disabilities to lead more comfortable, safer, and independent lives.
If you are looking for NDIS approved, well-equipped accommodation, OSAN Ability Assist offers only the best for our participants. Here, you’ll find the best temporary or long term home for your loved ones. We provide short-term housing, supported independent living, and specialist disability accommodation to our clients to ensure they can live independently.
