NDIS Respite Care and Short Term Accommodation (STA)
Are you interested in getting Short Term Accommodation as a form of respite care? This article provides all the relevant information to help you access the supports you need through your NDIS funding.
What is Short Term Accommodation?
Short Term Accommodation (including respite care) is support for participants who need to live out of their home for a short period. It can be used as respite for participants or to give carers a short break from their caring role.
Short Term Accommodation includes the support you receive during your stay. This may include capacity-building activities like group therapy, group fitness, and day trips.
How is Short Term Accommodation (STA) funded?
The NDIS funds STA under the Core Support category ‘Assistance with Daily Living’.
Usually, Short Term Accommodation is funded up to 28 days of per year. You can use your Short Term Accommodation funding flexibly, for example, you might want to use it in a block of up to 14 days at a time or for one weekend a month.
Depending on your needs, you may share a support worker with other guests to maximise value for money. Generally funding is for a group price, unless there is evidence you require individual support because of your disability.
STA funding covers the cost of care, accommodation, food, and activities. It's designed to be flexible, allowing participants to choose when, where, and how they receive this support, ensuring their needs and preferences are met while maintaining their independence and well-being.
How can I get STA included in my plan?
If you’d like funding for respite care included in your plan, you will need to request it in your planning or plan review meeting.
In this meeting, you should explain how much support you require and how your informal support network or carer help to deliver that support day-to-day. Try to highlight the effect this has on both of you, and how STA would help the situation.
As with all planning meetings, you should take any documents that support what you’re saying – this is especially important when it comes to STA. Some examples of documentation you could take to increase your chances of receiving funding for STA would be a report from an Occupational Therapist or a Psychologist. A letter from one of your informal supports, explaining their role and why respite care would help give them a break to avoid burn-out, can also be very useful.
Essentially, you should take any evidence that makes it easier for the NDIS to understand your situation and why it’s reasonable and necessary for you to receive respite care.
How do I find a respite care facility?
There are many specialised respite care providers located all throughout the country. These range from small homes to larger, hotel-style facilities. Each offers different services and supports to their guests.
Take your time to research what’s available and which STA providers meet your specific support needs. There are several websites and online communities that can help you with your search, so take a look around.
A support coordinator can also be useful for helping you get the right level of funding in your plan, and finding and connecting you with a suitable STA provider.