NDIS-Funded Cleaning Services by Elleisha's Property Services

Are you or a loved one living with a disability struggling to keep up with household chores? If so, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) may be able to help. With over 4.3 million Australians living with a disability, it's important that funding for supports and services is available to assist with daily living tasks.

In this blog, we'll discuss whether the NDIS offers funding for cleaning services to people with disabilities. We will also explore what you need to include in your NDIS plan as well as explore the types of NDIS cleaning services covered by the scheme.

NDIS cleaning services in Wollongong can be a game-changer for individuals with disabilities. So if you or a loved one is in need of support, read this blog to learn more about how the NDIS can help.

Mental Health

A clean living space can positively impact mental health by promoting a sense of calmness, safety, and comfort. This is especially crucial for individuals with disabilities who often experience high levels of stress or anxiety.

Accessibility

Clutter and disorganisation can create physical barriers for individuals with mobility impairments or sensory sensitivities. But with a clean environment, NDIS participants can easily access and move within their living space, allowing them to do their daily tasks independently and safely.

Quality of Life

A clean and healthy living environment not only improves the overall well-being of NDIS participants, but it greatly enhances their sense of dignity, independence, and overall satisfaction with their living situation.

Prevention of Hazards

Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential in identifying and addressing potential hazards including slips, trips, and falls, which may all pose a risk to the health and safety of NDIS participants.

Understanding NDIS cleaning Services

What are NDIS cleaning services?

What is the role of cleaning in assisting with daily life under the NDIS?

Cleaning basically assists individuals under the NDIS with their daily lives by promoting a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment where they can thrive and maintain independence.

For individuals with disabilities who may have compromised immune systems, cleaning generally promotes overall physical health by reducing the risk of infections and illnesses. What’s more, it reduces stress and anxiety levels by creating a conducive environment for relaxation and peace of mind. 

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By removing physical barriers and creating a more organised space, individuals under the NDIS can go about their daily activities with ease and independence. 

How do NDIS cleaning services fit into the Core Supports budget?

To have cleaning services included in the Core Supports budget, the participant would need to demonstrate that they require assistance due to their disability, and that cleaning services are reasonable and necessary to maintain a safe and healthy living environment. This may involve providing evidence from healthcare professionals about the participant's needs and limitations.

Choose ‘Assistance with Daily Life’ in your plan and ‘Daily Activities’ in the myplace portal. Then, describe what type of assistance you need. For example, assistance with everyday needs, household cleaning and/or yard maintenance.

Once it's established that cleaning services are necessary, the participant can use their Core Supports budget to fund cleaning services. Since the budget is flexible, participants can allocate funds based on their needs and preferences. However, the NDIS only covers services that are deemed 'reasonable and necessary'. Thus, the cost of cleaning services must also be within reasonable limits and directly related to the participant's disability support needs.

To make sure they receive adequate funding allocated for this support, NDIS participants can work with their support coordinator or an NDIS planner to include cleaning services in their NDIS plan.

Eligibility and Access

Criteria for eligibility for NDIS cleaning services

In order to access NDIS-funded cleaning assistance, individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria.

Disability or Impairment

The individual must be able to prove that they have a disability or impairment that affects their ability to do cleaning tasks by themselves. This could be in the form of physical, intellectual, cognitive, sensory, or psychosocial disabilities.

Need for a Cleaning Service

A healthcare professional may need to assess the individual's functional capabilities through various tests, observations, and discussions to determine the extent of the individual’s needs and the specific types of cleaning tasks they may require assistance with.

An Approved NDIS Plan

To be eligible for NDIS-funded cleaning aids, the individual must have an approved NDIS plan. Here, you will identify your current needs and set goals and objectives for the future. In this case, you'll need to specify that you require cleaning services due to your disability. You'll discuss the frequency and type of cleaning assistance needed and make sure it's documented in your plan.



Your NDIS plan should include:

• your personal information including day-to-day activities
• supports that can help you pursue your goals
• your current goals that will help you with your long-term goals
• the funding you have been allocated for each support category
• how you wish to implement and manage your plan
• additional assistance you may require to manage your plan

If you don’t have a plan yet, find out more about creating your NDIS plan here.

Steps to access cleaning services through the NDIS

Accessing cleaning services through the NDIS involves the following steps:

Determining Eligibility

Determine if you are eligible for the NDIS based on your disability and its impact on your daily life. This assessment is usually conducted by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or its representatives.

NDIS Plan Development

If you are deemed eligible, you can work with a planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to develop your NDIS plan. This involves discussing your goals, needs, and the cleaning services you require. Clearly outline your need for cleaning services in your NDIS plan. Make sure to detail the frequency, type of assistance required, and any specific preferences you may have.

Plan Approval

Once your NDIS plan is approved, you'll either receive your plan in person, by mail, or via the myplace portal. Then, you'll receive funding to access the supports outlined in the plan, including cleaning services.

Finding a Provider

You can now start looking for an NDIS registered cleaning service company who can meet your specific needs and preferences. You can search for registered providers through the NDIS website or ask your NDIS planner for recommendations.

Access Cleaning Services

After choosing a provider, individuals enter into a service agreement outlining the terms, conditions, and expectations regarding the provision of cleaning services. Once the agreement is in place, the cleaning service can now start according to the agreed-upon schedule and terms.

The process of including cleaning services in your NDIS plan

Here’s a guide on how you can effectively include cleaning services in your NDIS plan:

Assessment of Needs

Determine your specific cleaning requirements for the NDIS plan. This includes the type of supports and services you may need to pursue your goals. 

Prepare for Planning Meeting

Start by filling out Booklet 2 - Creating Your NDIS Plan. You can do this alone or with assistance, then bring it to your planning meeting along with any relevant reports or assessments to better understand your support needs. 

Attend the Planning Meeting

During your planning meeting, make sure that you discuss the goals you want to achieve with an NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC). Whether it's as simple as regular vacuuming or managing laundry, you should break them down clearly to tailor an NDIS plan addressing your unique needs and preferences comprehensively.

Receive your Approved NDIS Plan

Initially, the NDIA must approve your NDIS plan. Once approved, your LAC or NDIA planner will either deliver it to you in person or mail a paper copy to your preferred address.

The importance of feedback for improving service quality

Feedback allows providers to identify areas for improvement and adjust their cleaning methods or schedules to better accommodate participants' requirements, providing assurance that the services align closely with the participants' expectations.

Significantly, providing feedback helps establish trust and satisfaction among NDIS participants because it shows that their opinions matter. Plus, it helps make the cleaning services better suited to their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the NDIS help people with disabilities?

What is covered under the NDIS Home Maintenance?

Does the NDIS fund house cleaning?

Does the NDIS fund maintaining lawns and gardens?

Does the NDIS fund squalor and hoarding cleans?

Hoarding is a mental health disorder that involves excessive accumulation of possessions and difficulty in getting rid of them. It is a common form of self-neglect that can cause significant health risks to those affected. On the other hand, squalor involves extreme filth, neglect, and uncleanliness in a living environment which is often caused by mental health issues or physical disabilities.

For NDIS participants, the scheme will fund support to assist you in living an ordinary life. At Elleisha's Property Services, we specialise in comprehensive spring cleaning, hoarding and squalor cleans, and rubbish removal. We also work alongside other supporting agencies to assist individual participants of the NDIS.

Takeaway

NDIS funded cleaning is a support that you can include in your NDIS plan if you have a disability that requires assistance with household tasks. The aim of NDIS funded cleaning is to provide you with the support you need to maintain a safe and healthy living environment. This can help improve your overall wellbeing and independence, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your life without worrying about the state of your home.

At Elleisha's Property Services, we are a registered NDIS provider that offers a range of NDIS cleaning services in Newcastle and Wollongong. We understand that each our client's needs are different, so we tailor our services to suit either as a once-off or ongoing service. With a goal of helping you to improve your living environment and quality of life, we are committed to providing quality and personalised local, in-home services to NDIS participants. Whether it's spring-cleaning, hoarding and squalor cleaning, or rubbish removal, we would be more than happy to assist you. Contact us today to learn more of our services that are covered by the NDIS.