If you’re living with a disability, you might be wondering whether it’s the right time for you to move out of home, and you might have some questions.
Everyone is different and will feel comfortable moving out of home at a different time and stage in their life.
Let’s take a look at some things to think about, when you are considering moving out of home into supported accommodation.
What is supported accommodation and how can it support you?
Supported accommodation can mean that you live in a shared household with others, or that you have your own place, but with support services available to help you.
Shared accommodation could be the perfect option for moving out of home for the first time, depending on your support needs. In shared accommodation, staff are available 24 hours a day to help you make the transition to independent living.
It means that you can have as much, or as little support as you need or want. This flexibility allows you to pursue a more independent lifestyle.
Reasons to start planning a move
Do any of these apply to you? Supported accommodation might be a good choice if:
- You have developed or want to develop life skills, such as looking after your own money, shopping and transportation needs, and feel confident and excited about making a move.
- You need more space – personal or physical. If you have outgrown living with your family and you feel you’re ready for the next step, it can benefit you to have a more independent living situation.
- Your home environment is not helping you reach your potential. We all need the right environment to grow and to be ourselves, and many people have found that spreading their wings in a new home has enabled them to have an even better relationship with their family.
- You feel ready for more independence. It’s natural for a lot of people as they gain life skills and confidence to want to take the next step and live away from home. Especially if you are doing things like working, taking transport on your own and handling your own money, the time may be right to move towards independent living.
Reasons to move into supported accommodation
- Greater freedom and independence.
- New friends. Housemates often become good friends, and many people say that this has been one of the best things about moving into supported accommodation!
- More convenient location. With a variety of locations to choose from, you can find a place that suits you and is near your place of work or education.
- Learn new skills. Your community support staff can help you learn new things, whether it’s budgeting, shopping for yourself, cooking and other life skills.
Preparing for the move
One of the first things to do is work on your NDIS plan. This will provide the support and funding you need to access the available options. Activ have a range of resources to help you work through your plan.
It’s a good idea to start planning early, as it may take some time to set up your new living arrangements. We have an easy to use NDIS pre-planning guide that can assist, you can see it here.
To help grow in your independence, there are a few things that you can do right away, like making a budget, planning public transport routes or even cooking your family dinner.
We’ve collected some more helpful tips for planning and preparation right here.
Next steps
Activ has over 70 shared houses in Perth and regional Western Australia. No matter which area you’d like to live In, chances are we could have a vacancy that’s right for you.
We’d love to hear from you and help you discover the specialist living accommodation that’s best for you.