Stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer, and a leading cause of disability. Despite stroke being one of the largest causes of disability in Australia, only 1.4% (5,935) of active NDIS participants with an approved plan have stroke as their primary disability.
In the case of a more minor stroke, the effects may be short-lived. However, a more significant stroke can result in permanent disability. In fact, in 2020, a third of stroke events resulted in a disability which impeded the person’s ability to carry out activities of daily living unassisted.
Eligibility for NDIS or home care funding
Home care support with stroke
If the person is aged over 65, they may be eligible for aged care funding. Aged care support at home can be accessed through Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Home Care Package (HCP).
You may be eligible for a HCP if you are aged 65 years or older (50 years or older if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander), living at home and need assistance to do the things you used to be able to do yourself.
The Assessment eligibility checker on the MyAgedCare website is a handy tool to check if you’re eligible for an assessment. Once it’s clear that you are eligible for assessment, an ACAT assessment will be conducted by the Aged Care Assessment Team. An ACAT assessor — likely a nurse, social worker or healthcare professional — will typically visit your home to carry out the assessment. Ensure that you are prepared for the assessment.
NDIS funding for support with stroke
If the person is aged over 65, they may be eligible for aged care funding. Aged care support at home can be accessed through Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a HCP.
You may be eligible for a HCP if you are aged 65 years or older (50 years or older if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander), living at home and need assistance to do the things you used to be able to do yourself.
The Assessment eligibility checker on the MyAgedCare website is a handy tool to check if you’re eligible for an assessment. Once it’s clear that you are eligible for assessment, an ACAT assessment will be conducted by the Aged Care Assessment Team. An ACAT assessor — likely a nurse, social worker or healthcare professional — will typically visit your home to carry out the assessment. Ensure that you are prepared for the assessment.
NDIS funding for support with stroke
If you or someone you know has experienced a stroke – and is aged under 65 – you may be eligible for NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) funding. You must also:
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Special Category Visa holder
- Live in Australia
- Need disability-specific supports to complete daily life activities.
The NDIS may provide money to pay for services, equipment and supports so that the person can live a fulfilling and enjoyable life. Eligibility for NDIS funding rests on factors including what your disability is, whether it’s temporary or permanent, and how it impacts your life (i.e. might its effect be considered ‘significant’?).
To be eligible for NDIS funding, the disease or medical condition must cause permanent impairment (physical, intellectual, cognitive, neurological, visual, hearing or psychosocial), resulting in significant disability. For example, stroke leading to hemiparesis (the resulting physical impairment substantially reduces mobility).
NDIS funding is allocated across three areas:
- Core: To support activities of daily living
- Capital: An investment for assistive technologies, such as equipment and home modifications
- Capacity building: Support to build skills and independence.
The amount of funding provided by the NDIS differs for each individual – it’s based on the person’s needs and your goals. To ensure you get the best possible support, it’s important to clearly set out your capacity and functional challenges. Assessment tools accepted by the NDIS for people who have experienced stroke, include:
- The Modified Rankin Scale: measures the degree of disability or dependence in daily activities.
- The Motor Assessment Scale: usually completed by Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists, used to assess everyday motor function (fine and gross motor) in people who have suffered a stroke. It is performance based and the best of three attempts at a task is recorded against a seven-point scale.
- The Stroke Impact Scale: a self-reported questionnaire that asks about impairments and disabilities caused by stroke, as well as how stroke has affected a person’s quality of life.
- The Unmet Resource Needs: helps identify the resource needs of family caregivers, to reduce negative outcomes after stroke.
Support for stroke care
Once your application for NDIS funding has been approved, you can use it to connect with independent support workers on Mable to start your support services.
Stroke can lead to a range of challenges, from restricted movement and paralysis to difficulties with speech and memory, swallowing, hearing and eyesight. When the outcome of a stroke is severe, the impact on family and carers – as well as the person – can be significant and long-lasting.
Through the NDIS or aged care support, you may be eligible to receive:
- Support with daily personal activities
- Assistance with travel and transport, to enable your participation in community, social, economic and daily life activities
- Workplace help, to enable you to gain or keep employment
- Therapeutic supports
- Help with household tasks to support you to remain at home
- Purchase of aids or equipment, including assessment, set up and training on use
- Home modification design and construction
- Mobility equipment.
What if you’re not eligible for NDIS or aged care funding?
If you find that you’re not eligible for NDIS funding or home care funding for stroke care, you can still pay privately for support through Mable. When you sign up with Mable, you can connect directly with support workers to find the support services you need.
By paying privately for your support services, you are in control of the exact support you need, when and where you need it, and from whom you choose to get those services. Additionally, since you’re connecting with support workers of your choice directly, you have the flexibility to mutually decide a price that works for you and them.
FAQs
Does NDIS support stroke patients going through rehabilitation?
The NDIS does not fund:
Medication, general medical and dental services and treatment, specialist services, hospital care, surgery and rehabilitation.
Rehab falls under the jurisdiction of the health service.
Is having a stroke classed as a disability?
A stroke, in itself, is not classed as a disability. However, a stroke may cause disability – for example impaired motor function, mobility and cognitive challenges.
Can you claim benefits if you have had a stroke?
You may be eligible for Centrelink benefits if stroke has impeded your ability to work. In which case, you might also be entitled to Concession and health care cards, which can ease the financial burden of certain services and your prescription medicines. Concession cards may also entitle you to some discounts, depending on where you’re located. Applications are managed by Centrelink, and eligibility will depend on your individual circumstances.
What support is available for stroke victims?
Independent support workers on Mable can help you navigate life after stroke. They are experienced in providing different support services, such as personal care, social support and domestic assistance, nursing care, support with being physically active and exercising, and much more, to support you to live independently in your home.
What disabilities can result from a stroke?
The most common disabilities that result from stroke include:
- Paralysis and problems with movement
- Speech challenges or difficulty understanding language
- Thinking and memory issues
- Sensory disturbance, for example, hearing and sight
- Emotional problems.
