What was good for you six months ago may not be good for you now. Your circumstances have probably changed, different priorities might have emerged, and you might desire more freedom over your schedule.
This does not necessarily imply that the support you currently get is ineffective. It might just be the right moment to assess its suitability for your present-day situation.
Here are seven signs worth considering.
1. Your Goals Have Changed
Personal goals are not fixed.
You may be interested in becoming more independent at home, developing everyday skills, engaging in various activities or forming stronger connections within the community.
Thus, the support you receive should stay relevant to the areas you are willing to develop.
In case your current support arrangement is too centered around achieving goals that are not relevant anymore for you, talking about changes could be useful.
2. Your Daily Routine No Longer Matches Your Support
Change in work, education, residence, family or even routine activity could influence the time and manner in which you wish to receive assistance.
This is because the assistance that used to fit conveniently in your schedule would interfere with your other activities.
Person-centered assistance should take into consideration the fit of the assistance into your routine and not your routine fitting into the schedule of the service.
It is therefore a good step to talk about your current priorities with your support provider.
3. You Want More Choice in Everyday Decisions
Effective support services should take into account the preference of the person and their involvement in decision making.
This might involve decision making related to the activities, the schedule, the goals and the provision of the support services.
Choice and control are described by the NDIS as important principles in relation to the participants including decision making regarding the support services used.
Hence, when a person feels routinely excluded from decision making about their own support services, this is something that needs to be discussed.
4. Communication Does Not Feel Clear
Communication influences trust and consistency.
It is necessary for you to be in a position to communicate preferences, ask questions, and air any concerns that you may have. Similarly, the family and care providers could require clear communication if and when it is appropriate for them to be part of the support network of the participant.
The following could be warning signs:
- Inconsistencies with respect to expectations
- Continued misunderstandings
- Neglecting preferences
- Hard time communicating change
- Who do I call?
Some cases may be sorted out with a good discussion. But persistent communication problems may indicate that it’s time to reassess the whole support system.
5. Your Support Needs Have Increased or Decreased
Needs can be dynamic.
It is possible for you to become increasingly independent in one area while simultaneously needing help with something else.
For example, a person can have decreasing need for help with an already known daily activity and require more help to make connections in the community or learn some other skill in life.
Bliss presently provides support services for all kinds of activities ranging from daily activities to life skill acquisition.
Hence, when reviewing support, you can think about what support you presently need rather than going with the old arrangement.
6. You Are Not Getting Enough Opportunity to Build Independence
It is also worth noting that supporting someone does not always involve doing things for them.
If it is suitable for the individual, it can involve skill-building and empowerment to be able to do more things on their own.
For instance, they might want to practice some tasks, take part in some activities in the community, and develop skills associated with leading an independent life.
Bliss describes the way its current services support people’s independence as helping them with tasks, community activities, and life skills.
The crucial point is very clear: Is your support aligned with what you mean by independence?
7. The Support No Longer Feels Personalised
Two individuals may receive identical support services but have entirely different expectations from the process.
Personalized disability support must take into account individual needs, not be based on a one-size-fits-all approach.
It involves:
- Personal preferences
- Communication styles
- Daily routines
- Personal goals
- Interests
- Level of personal support needed
- Ways of taking part in community life
Bliss claims it offers personalized care plans according to individual needs.
If your existing support system feels irrelevant to you, a review might be useful to establish what exactly you would like to change.
What Should You Do If Your Support No Longer Feels Right?
Start by identifying the specific issue.
Instead of saying, “My support isn’t working,” consider what you actually want to be different.
Ask yourself:
- What is working well?
- What feels difficult?
- Have my goals changed?
- Do I have enough choice?
- Does my routine still fit?
- What would I like to do differently?
Then discuss those points with the appropriate people involved in your support.
If your questions relate specifically to an NDIS plan, funding or changing funded supports, individual circumstances matter. Use current official NDIS information or speak with the appropriate NDIS contact rather than assuming a particular change will automatically receive funding.
Finding Support That Reflects Your Current Goals
The right support arrangement should not remain unchanged simply because “that’s how we’ve always done it”.
People develop new interests. Routines shift. Skills grow. Priorities change.
As a result, periodically asking whether your support still reflects what matters to you can be valuable.
Bliss Disability Care Services provides a range of disability supports in Pakenham, including personal activities assistance, community participation, support coordination, independent living assistance and life-skills development.
Looking for disability support that better reflects your current needs and goals? Visit Bliss Disability Care Services to explore available support and discuss your options.
FAQ
Consider whether your support reflects your goals, preferences, routine and desired level of independence. Good support should also provide opportunities for communication and meaningful participation in decisions that affect you.
Yes. Goals, routines and circumstances can change. Someone may need more support in one area while becoming more independent in another. Reviewing what currently works can help keep support relevant.
Personalised support considers the individual’s goals, preferences, routines, communication and support needs rather than applying exactly the same approach to everyone.
Identify the specific concern and discuss it with the appropriate provider or people involved in your support. If the issue involves NDIS funding or plan decisions, seek current information from official NDIS channels.
