What Does NDIS Personal Care Support Include?
Getting ready for the day can take a surprising amount of energy. When a disability makes showering, dressing or moving around difficult, a morning routine can become a demanding part of the day.
NDIS personal care support provides practical help with these everyday activities. You stay involved in decisions about what help you receive and how it is provided.
What is personal care support?
Personal care is disability-related assistance or supervision with daily personal tasks. Depending on your needs, this might involve physical help, guidance or support to complete parts of a routine yourself.
The aim is to help you manage everyday life as independently as possible, in a way that suits your circumstances.
What can personal care include?
Showering and grooming
Help with bathing, showering, washing your hair, brushing your teeth and other personal hygiene tasks. Discuss how you like your routine done and where you need assistance.
Getting dressed
Support with putting on and removing clothes, managing buttons or fastenings and getting ready for the day. Your clothing choices and preferences remain yours.
Toileting and continence care
Assistance with using the toilet, changing continence products, menstrual care and related personal hygiene. Privacy and comfort should guide how this support is delivered.
Eating and drinking
Help with eating, drinking or using utensils when your disability affects these activities. The type of assistance should reflect your assessed needs and agreed support arrangements.
Moving and transfers
Assistance with changing position or moving between your bed, chair and toilet. This should follow your assessed needs and any relevant equipment or safe support instructions.
Some complex personal care tasks need additional worker training or clinical input. Ask your provider which skills are needed for your support and who will provide it.
What could this look like in your morning?
Imagine you enjoy choosing your clothes and doing your own hair, but need help getting into the shower and managing clothing fastenings.
Your agreed support might focus on those tasks, with time to do the rest yourself. Someone else might need supervision or prompts to follow their routine, or assistance getting ready for bed.
The starting point is a conversation about what you want to do yourself, where you want help and what matters to you.
You help decide how care is provided
Personal care can involve private parts of your day. Feeling comfortable with the person helping you matters.
Before support begins, discuss:
The routines and timing you prefer.
Communication, cultural or worker preferences.
How your privacy will be protected and your consent checked.
What should happen if you feel uncomfortable or want a change.
You can ask questions and involve an advocate or someone you trust. Your provider should respect your decisions and explain support in a way you understand.
How does NDIS funding work?
Personal care may be funded through Assistance with Daily Life, within your Core Supports budget.
What you can purchase depends on your disability-related needs, available funding and the conditions of your plan. Check your plan and speak with your my NDIS contact if you are unsure.
Before agreeing to services, ask the provider to explain the proposed tasks, hours and costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get help with just a few tasks?
Yes. Your agreed support can focus on particular tasks, depending on your needs, funding and service arrangements. Explain which activities you want help with.
Can I ask for a particular type of support worker?
You can discuss preferences such as gender, language and communication style. Ask how the provider matches workers and what options are available.
Does personal care include house cleaning?
Cleaning, laundry and meal preparation generally fall under household-task supports. Personal care focuses on tasks such as showering, dressing and eating. You may need both types of support, depending on your circumstances and plan.
Talk to Care Cube about your daily routine
Looking for NDIS personal care support in Ballarat, Wendouree, Sebastopol or other areas in Victoria?
Tell the Care Cube team which parts of your routine you would like help with. We can discuss your preferences, support needs and available options.
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