Case Study
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Background
Integrate Disability Solutions was approached by a 46-year-old woman named Sarah, who lived in Ipswich and had been confined to a wheelchair due to a neurological condition. Sarah had been living with her family, but her increasing care needs were becoming challenging for her aging parents. She required daily assistance with personal care, mobility, and household tasks. While Sarah’s family had provided her with the love and support she needed, they recognised that she needed a more independent and sustainable living arrangement with professional support.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) became a viable option for Sarah’s care and support needs. After reviewing her situation, Integrate Disability Solutions recommended transitioning Sarah into a Supported Independent Living (SIL) arrangement. This would allow her to live in a more structured environment with dedicated assistance while giving her the opportunity to foster independence. SIL is designed to provide around-the-clock support to individuals with disabilities, enabling them to live as independently as possible.
Challenges Faced
Sarah’s transition to Supported Independent Living came with several unique challenges, particularly due to her medical condition, mobility issues, and emotional attachment to her family. Some key challenges included:
Complex Care Needs: Sarah’s wheelchair-bound condition meant that she needed regular assistance with mobility and transfers. She also required help with personal hygiene, meal preparation, and medication administration. Additionally, her living environment needed to be fully accessible.
Emotional Adjustment: Moving away from her family home was emotionally difficult for Sarah. She had spent most of her life with her family, and the prospect of living away from them was daunting. Her parents were also anxious about the transition, worried about the quality of care and the potential for loneliness.
Suitable Accommodation: Finding an accessible home in Yamanto, a suburb of Ipswich, that met Sarah’s mobility needs and provided appropriate care was a challenge. The accommodation needed to be designed or modified to suit her wheelchair usage, including wider doorways, accessible bathroom facilities, and appropriate equipment for daily living.
NDIS Plan Coordination: Transitioning into SIL required coordination with Sarah’s NDIS plan, which had to be carefully tailored to cover her specific needs. Ensuring that all necessary supports were included in her plan—such as mobility aids, allied health services, and daily support workers—was critical.
Approach and Implementation
Integrate Disability Solutions took a collaborative approach, working closely with Sarah, her family, NDIS coordinators, and service providers to ensure a smooth transition into Supported Independent Living. The process included several key steps:
Initial Assessment and Planning: Integrate Disability Solutions conducted a comprehensive assessment of Sarah’s care needs, mobility requirements, and personal goals. This assessment helped identify the most appropriate SIL arrangement. The team also took time to understand Sarah’s preferences for her living environment and care team, ensuring that her emotional and psychological needs were prioritised.
NDIS Plan Review and Coordination: Integrate Disability Solutions worked with Sarah’s NDIS coordinator to ensure her plan was updated to include the necessary funding for her SIL arrangement. This included funding for 24/7 care support, assistive technology for mobility, and home modifications. The team also liaised with NDIS planners to secure appropriate allied health support, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and counselling services.
Finding Suitable Accommodation: After assessing several SIL providers in the Ipswich region, Integrate Disability Solutions found a home in Yamanto that was both accessible and close to Sarah’s family, making visits convenient. The home had been modified to include wheelchair ramps, an accessible bathroom, and a kitchen that allowed Sarah to participate in meal preparation with minimal assistance. IDS also ensured that the home had the necessary equipment, including a hoist for safe transfers and an adjustable bed.
Building a Support Team: Integrate Disability Solutions carefully selected a team of support workers who were trained in mobility assistance and had experience working with individuals with complex care needs. The team also included specialists who could assist with personal care, meal preparation, and social support. Sarah was gradually introduced to her support workers, which allowed her time to build rapport and trust before moving into her new home.
Transition and Monitoring: The transition into SIL was gradual. Initially, Sarah stayed at the Yamanto home for a few nights a week, with her family providing emotional support during the process. As she became more comfortable, the number of days increased until she was fully transitioned into her new living arrangement. Integrate Disability Solutions provided regular updates to Sarah’s family, ensuring they were involved in the process and addressing any concerns they had. Post-transition, IDS maintained ongoing monitoring of Sarah’s care, conducting regular check-ins to ensure that her needs were being met and that she was adjusting well.
Outcomes and Impact
The transition to Supported Independent Living in Yamanto proved to be a positive change for Sarah. Over time, she gained a sense of independence while still receiving the necessary support. Her physical and emotional well-being improved, and she felt more empowered to make decisions about her daily routine and activities. The SIL arrangement provided Sarah with a safe and supportive environment, while also reducing the caregiving burden on her family.
Sarah’s family also benefited from the transition, as they felt reassured knowing that she was in a professional and caring environment. They continued to visit her regularly and remained involved in her care, which helped maintain strong family ties.
Overall, the successful transition into NDIS-supported independent living was a testament to the collaborative efforts of Integrate Disability Solutions, NDIS, and Sarah’s family. Through careful planning, tailored care, and emotional support, Sarah was able to lead a more independent and fulfilling life in her new home.
*Disclaimer – We do not publish client names and addresses for privacy reasons. This Case Study is a hypothetical scenario related to the SIL service Integrate Disability Solutions can provide.
