The term is everywhere—in conversations, online forums, and it's even referred to as a "holiday." In understanding how it works and how we can incorporate into our customers planning will help us to discover the best ways to make the most of it.
Short-term accommodation, which includes respite, provides participants with a brief break from their usual home environment. This covers the expenses associated with a participant's care in another location. Participants are allowed to utilise up to 14 days at a time, with a yearly maximum of 28 days.
The flexibility of Short-Term Accommodation (STA) allows participants to spread this time, possibly allocating it to one weekend per month. Funding for STA is drawn from the core budget.
It offers a valuable opportunity for both participants and their informal supports to take a time away from each other. United with the participant's goals, STA also serves as a platform for trying fresh experiences and picking up skills. In addition, it provides participants with the chance to make new friendships and become an active part of their community.
The Short-Term Accommodation includes: *
Personal care
Accommodation
Food
Activities that you and the provider agree on
HOST FAMILIES
There are options available for participants that live at home living with complex disabilities. One of the ways of using host families, is for the participant or the family to self-manage a portion of their core funding. In this way they can use a host family who may present better value for money and be able utilise the service more often.
Example:
Dean lives with cerebral palsy and autism; he is nonverbal, and his main carer is his father. Dean’s Dad has employed a host family. The host family welcome Dean into their home and do activities with him, like trike riding, swimming and walks around their area. The cost is significantly lower as the host family charge $800 for the weekend from Friday afternoon to Sunday night. Dean receives 1:1 support most of time, except for transfers into the shower where Dean requires 1:2 support and this provided by the host family. The main benefit to Dean is that he is treated like one of their own, he knows his carers well and they know him. Dean’s family prefer this option to having Dean to stay in a group respite as he is not comfortable with a lot of people and noise. The family utilise the support more regularly, every 3 weeks and their complex planner has agreed to the funding being used flexibly and longer than the 28 day advice. This is because Dean’s needs are high, and the family burnout elevated. This is an opportunity for a respite to keep the family unit strong and able to cope, without the need for Dean to live in supported accommodation. |
Let’s look at how STA can be incorporated within the NDIS guidelines.
Scenario one: Nicholas is 48, he lives with an intellectual disability, resides with his parents, both in their late 60s. The collective goal of Nicholas and his family is to nurture his independence, as reflected in his NDIS plan goals. To achieve this, Nicholas has been actively learning life skills, such as cooking and shopping, with the assistance of his support worker. However, he would like further to experience a few days away from home. His parents agree as they are future planning with Nicholas living in supported accommodation when they cannot look after Nicholas. During his NDIS review meeting the planner recognises the potential benefits of incorporating respite care into Nicholas's plan. This not only provides relief for his parents but also offers Nicholas an opportunity to acclimate being away from his primary caregivers, continue honing his skills, and make new friendships. With the inclusion of Short-Term Accommodation (STA) funding in his plan, Nicholas, and his family work with their support coordinator to explore available options. They discover a group stay experience that aligns with their preferences – a 3-day retreat at a well-known ocean-side location. The group's itinerary includes staying in an Airbnb home, enjoying beach outings, boating experience, bushwalking, shared shopping ventures, and cooking evening meals together. Additionally, Nicholas has the chance to engage in one-on-one activities he enjoys, such as bike riding, with dedicated support. Upon returning home, Nicholas is excited to share his experience with his family. Notably, he forges a new friendship with one of the fellow group members. The connection goes beyond the retreat, as they exchange phone numbers with plans to meet for lunch in the coming weeks. This not only signifies the success of the respite care initiative but also highlights the positive impact it has had on Nicholas's social life and overall well-being. |
Scenario Two Trish, a 56-year-old woman living with multiple sclerosis, shares a home with her daughter and grandchildren, with her daughter serving as the primary caregiver. Trish receives support for personal care and community engagement through her flexible core budget. Recently, she was invited to take part in a three-day art retreat. Being an artist who sells her works online, Trish was excited about the prospect of attending the event. However, on speaking with the organisers, she discovered that the accommodation provided on the retreat property lacked accessibility features. While the art studio was wheelchair-friendly, the cabins posed a challenge with steps and no ramps. Trish wasn’t discouraged, after looking through the NDIS price guide on options and discussions with her plan manager, she decided to leverage the flexibility of her core funding. She opted to stay at an accessible accommodation nearby, where she could receive one-on-one support. Daily transportation from the accessible rooms to the retreat allowed her to join fellow artists in the studio. Trish contributed a reduced rate from her personal funds to the art retreat, utilising her core supports for short term accommodation, including her support worker. This decision aligned with Trish's goal of supporting her passion for art in a meaningful way. The retreat not only provided her with valuable artistic experiences but also offered a respite to her family, strengthening their relationships. Additionally, Trish forged firm friendships and potential collaborations during the retreat, enhancing her personal and artistic network for the future. This showcased Trish's determination to overcome accessibility barriers and pursue her artistic goals. The retreat not only contributed to her growth as an artist but also played a role in enhancing her family dynamics and expanding her connections within the artistic community. |
With each option, including host families, they have their own approach. One choice follows the standard guidelines provided by the NDIS, while the others are more flexible and unconventional. All examples serve the participant and align with the intent of short-term accommodation.
When providing guidance to customers as a coordinator, it's important to be clear and direct your customers based on the NDIS recommendations. A "can I buy it " checklist can be used to determine if a purchase is allowed.
It's also important to recognise that sometimes thinking creatively is necessary and that in the end, it is the participant’s responsibility and their choice. Short term accommodation was devised to allow families/caregivers a break from each other, help participants build skills and have new experiences, it wasn't designed for family getaways.
NDIS*
As always, we wish you well.
The Lama Care Team
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