Supported Independent Living: An Introduction
Supported independent living is a service designed for people with disabilities who want to maintain as much independence as possible. A supported independent living program allows a person to maintain their independence while accessing a variety of supportive services on an as-needed basis. Read on to discover more about supported independent living and the type of support you can access.
Help with daily living tasks
A carer can visit your home to help you to complete daily living tasks such as shopping, cooking, cleaning and laundry. A carer may help with other tasks such as gardening and DIY if you have a disability. This may be very helpful if you need help with fixing minor problems that you cannot manage alone.
Assistance with appointments
If you want to attend appointments, courses or social events without having to think about transport or other problems, supported independent living can help with this. A support worker will help you to plan out your day to access these, along with helping you organise transport if you need it. A carer may also be able to help you prepare for appointments, by making sure that you are well-rested or helping to remind you of any information that the doctor has given you.
Developing individual support plans
A support worker will help you develop an individual support plan that is designed around your needs and your life goals. The plan will be reviewed regularly to see how it can be improved.
Assistance in accessing other community services
A support worker can help with much more than just daily living tasks, they can show you the organisation and services available in your local area. This might be getting access to transport or financial services or help in getting your phone repaired or upgrading the internet at home.
Help with an independent personal budget
A carer will help you develop a personal budget to meet your needs, including a budget for food and household expenses. A carer can also help you with managing personal debts, such as bills or credit cards. A support worker may be able to advise about ways of reducing your expenses and increasing your income.
Access to goods and equipment
Your carer may be able to access aids and equipment to help with daily living tasks. This could include things like wheelchairs or hoists.
If you would like to find out more, you should contact a company that offers supported independent living services.