Update on our advice

An Advice document showing an older person.

Reference Group members looked at the IAC’s new advice about participants who are getting older.

A young person with an arrow pointing to them as an older person. And an arrow pointing from the older person to an Advice document.

Members shared that the title of the IAC’s advice should include the age range of participants.

A Reference Group member holding a document and the number '45'.

Members also shared that the age for the advice should start at 45 years old.

This is because:

A health care icon and a problem icon.

  • some people with disability might experience health issues at this age

3 First Nations people beneath the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag and the number '50'.

  • some First Nations peoples can use aged care when they are 50 years old.

2 people having a conversation in front of a laptop. Above them is a tick and a cross inside of a speech bubble.

Members explained that some participants need support to make a decision to move into aged care.

A person beneath an importance icon inside of a thought bubble.

They should make this decision based on what they need.

And not on their age.

Someone supporting an older person and a dollar sign with an arrow pointing down.

Members also explained that most of the time aged care gets less funding than the NDIS.

Someone supporting another person and a cross.

This means people who need more support might not get enough support if they move into aged care.

A person supporting their carer who is also an older person.

Members shared that as carers get older, people with disability might need to start looking after their carer.

A person raising their arms beneath a disability icon inside of a thought bubble and the number '40' with an arrow pointing up.

Some people don’t know they have a disability until they are more than 40 years old.

An NDIA staff member beneath a person crying inside of a thought bubble.

Members explained that the NDIA should know how to support these people if they have experienced trauma.

An aged care worker supporting an elderly person, a high-vis vest and a cross.

Members shared that participants who move into aged care might not be able to keep working if they can’t get NDIS supports.

An NDIS plan and a document showing an aged care worker supporting an elderly person.

Members also shared that some providers offer both:

  • NDIS supports
  • aged care supports.

3 providers.

Providers support people with disability by delivering a service.

2 people pointing at themselves beneath a conflict icon. The conflict icon shows 2 arrows crashing into each other.

This can help participants move into aged care if they use the same provider.

But this can also cause a conflict of interest.

2 people looking at a document together. Above one of them is a thought bubble with the person smiling in it.

A conflict of interest is when someone could affect a decision so the result is better for them.