Participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) require a range of integrated supports including health and rehabilitation services, as well as daily living and domestic supports. The NDIS, in Victoria, enables participants to have greater control over their funding and support to improve their health and wellbeing and increase their social and community participation. Participants are encouraged to use an NDIS Provider in Melbourne to assist them in organising supports to improve their daily living and health and achieve their long-term goals.
Allied Health and Therapy supports help participants build capacity and wellbeing and achieve improvements in their health, daily living, and participation.
Phase I: Core In-Home Support
In order to effectively participate in the community, the first step in all disability supports is to build participant’s skills in their home environment. Core supports assist participants with daily living in their home environment.
- Personal Care and Housekeeping: Disability support workers assist participants with self-care activities of daily living including personal hygiene, dressing, meal preparation, and cleanup.
- Complex Community Nursing: Skilled nursing supports and allied health, including therapies, assist with the prevention of further health and disability needs and reduce the likelihood of hospitalizations.
- Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): Participants have 24/7 skilled and allied health disability and nursing supports in a fully accessible and integrative living environment.
Phase II: Allied Health
Participants can build their mobility and independence and engage in communication and social participation through a range of allied health interventions.
NDIS Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology
There are many benefits of physical activity, and all forms of exercise are recommended for all participants, including those with a physical disability. Physical activity can assist in developing gross motor skills and joint mobility. Exercise can also improve muscle strength and endurance, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists design exercise programs for participants following rehabilitation for surgery, or for the management of a chronic health condition. Exercise programs are also designed for participants who wish to improve their strength, endurance, and general fitness.
Occupational Therapy and Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA)
Equipment recommended by Occupational Therapists may improve the independence of participants in the activities of daily living (ADLs) and provide sensory input for regulating participant behaviors. Evidence gathered during a Functional Capacity Assessment is used to support a request for plan review to provide sufficient funding for assistive technology and supportive equipment for participants.
Speech Pathology and Positive Behavior Support
Participants work with Speech Pathologists to enhance communication skills and swallowing. Positive behavior support is provided to assist participants in adjusting their behaviors to suit social and environmental demands, as well as to regulate anxiety.
Phase III: Community Engagement and Social Inclusion
It is important that participants learn to be fully independent and included in their community, including participating in various activities in their surrounding neighborhood. Support workers enable and facilitate participants to visit the library and other educational and recreational facilities in the community and volunteer in the community. Support workers also enable participants to visit social and medical activities in the community.
Phase IV: The Competitive Edge of Integrated Clinical Leadership
Integrated clinical leadership within a service provider team provides an edge in achieving the desired outcome and improving participant quality of care through:
- Unified Care Coordination: It is essential that allied health professionals and care and support workers, employed by a service provider team, work together to achieve the overall goal of a participant.
- Flexible Short-Term Respite (STA/MTA): Program participants spend time away from home, and family caregivers receive temporary relief from their care responsibilities.
- Understanding and Matching Workers: Participants’ cultural preferences are considered when decision making is made regarding the interests and communication style of support workers.
Matrix Healthcare, and others like them, provide the full range of NDIS support, allied health services, and disability accommodation in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Phase V: Be Informed – Understand Your NDIS Plan
To get the most benefit from your NDIS funding:
- Know what you want: Think about the goal you want to achieve. What would you like to be able to do? Is it to get out in the community? Is it to make new friends? Is it to learn new skills?
- Get Allied Health Involved: Bring a physiotherapist with you when you go and purchase the equipment you need.
- Stay involved: As you get more independent, talk to your support workers about changes you need to make in your support.
Conclusion
To achieve the outcomes you want and need, and to make the most of your NDIS funding, you need a trusting and caring multidisciplinary team, including a service provider with expertise in mental health, therapy, and disability. You can then participate in activities that improve your health and wellbeing, and take part in community activities.
