Accessible Homes Australia residents will benefit from recent changes to On-Site Shared Support (OSS) within their communities, creating a greater blend of independent living with on-site assistance, financial stability, and increased care tailored to their needs.
For individuals in AHA’s Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), the OSS is a 24-hour, support service providing an onsite carer offering assistance with daily tasks in addition to residents’ chosen care providers, ensuring help is always easily available.
NDIS changes include standardising the OSS, so residents living in assisted communities contribute equal funding to access the service, without it affecting core supports, creating greater flexibility and increased care.
“If someone is moving into an independent SDA, your primary support provider doesn’t need to change but when they’re not present, or perhaps when an extra set of hands might be required, an additional care service is available to assist, with the cost being shared equally by everyone in their NDIS plan,” says AHA General Manager of Customers and Operations, Bree Barry.
“This is the best way to support our residents to live as independently as possible, while creating cost efficiencies for the NDIS, as each person is contributing to this shared support as opposed to individually purchasing one-on-one services for the same amount of time.”
The OSS carers can help residents with high support needs in a number of ways, including food preparation and light household duties, as well as transfers into hoists, offering a helping hand in unexpected or emergency situations, and covering hours outside of scheduled appointments with primary carers.
With a strong focus on flexible and independent living, AHA residents vote every 12 months on their OSS providers, deciding whether to renew the contract or explore other options, giving residents an added layer of autonomy over their care.
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