As the candles flicker atop your 65th birthday cake, it’s a time to reflect on reaching an incredible milestone and reminisce on all the memories you’ve made so far. But turning 65 when you receive an NDIS package can also bring about a number of questions, particularly concerning your eligibility and how to make the scheme suit your needs as you continue to age.
In this month’s blog we investigate the eligibility requirements for our 65-and-over citizens to ensure they continue to receive high-quality and tailored care well into their golden years.
Eligibility for the NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is available to Australians aged between nine and 65 years old who have a significant and permanent disability.
You can take an eligibility test here.
Once you have established your eligibility, you can apply to start receiving the NDIS and will have a response within 21 days ¹.
Can I stay on the NDIS once I turn 65?
Generally speaking, your NDIS support won’t stop when you turn 65, but there are some requirements which determine your ongoing eligibility.
To keep your package after your 65th birthday, you must be:
- A current recipient of the NDIS
- Not living in an aged care facility (unless this was your primary place of residence prior to turning 65. What if you were already in residential aged care before you turned 65?
- You are not receiving permanent home care
Because the NDIS is tailored to your individual needs and disability, it can make more sense to stay with this level of support, however there are other options available to you once you turn 65, including aged care funding.
What is the Disability Support for Older Australians?
The Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) program supports older Australians with disability who received specialist disability supports from the Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme but were not eligible for the NDIS.
DSOA has a similar framework to the NDIS whereby participants create a Individual Support Plan (ISP) to outline their goals and care requirements.
You may be eligible to receive care under the DSOA if you:
- Were 65 years and over when the NDIS commenced in your region and are assessed as ineligible for the Scheme
- Are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 to 64 when the NDIS commenced in your region and are assessed ineligible for the Scheme.
To find out more about DSOA, click here.
What are the aged care options available to me?
Depending on your individual circumstances, it can be worthwhile to explore how switching to an aged care funding plan could support you.
MyAgedCare is the federal funding system for people over 65 who need support in their home and community. This is available to everyone, regardless of their ability.
Through MyAgedCare you can receive support:
- At home
- In the community
- In a residential aged care facility
For those who elect to receive care through MyAgedCare funding, the package will often act in a similar way to an NDIS Plan and allows you to do things such as:
- Modify your home to suit your physical needs (shower chairs, ramps etc)
- Receive nursing and support
- Help with cleaning and gardening
- Help with cooking nutritious meals
- Social activities to keep your body and mind healthy and active
Working with Focused Health Care
If you are over 65 and are looking for some extra help at home, Focused Health Care is here for you. Our team is run by Registered Nurses who have experience working with people over 65 in their homes and care settings.
We understand you need access to high quality care, delivered by a team of qualified and compassionate people.
Our team is experienced at navigating and understanding the different funding streams available to you, so if you have an NDIS package and would like to understand how to switch to aged care funding, or want to keep your NIDS Plan, we can help. We are providers under both schemes so can help you understand what will best suit your needs.
Give us a call to find out more – 1300 201 351.
*All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Focused Health Care can consult with you to confirm if this treatment is right for you.
