Creating Home: Individualised Living

The foundation of most modern societies is the acknowledgment of everyone’s right to exercise their citizenship by leading and directing their own lives. It is essentially one of the most basic and fundamental elements of being human. This basic right matters to everyone regardless of ability, age, health or experience. The ability to decide how you want your life to be, who you want to be connected to and how you are supported are essential factors that we all understand and expect in our own lives.

All of us like to live in a way that reflects who we are and what makes sense to us. We like to choose where we live, and importantly, the people we live with.

Being connected to other people is a basic human need. Our relationships are essentially one of the most important and fundamental elements of being human. As a modern society we have a variety of ways that people develop a sense of belonging, be it through intimate relationships, family networks, friendship circles, communities of interests or by simply being present in our local communities.

When  a person needs support to live in their own home, finding a way for this to happen in a way that makes sense to them (and their allies) is critical. It takes deep discovery and planning, time, intention, and exploration.

Sometimes, people may want and /or need more formal supports to live in their home.

"Creating Home" is the term used to describe a range of ways that people can have 'live in' companionship and support in their home. There is no 'one size fits all' as each person is unique, and so are the people they want to be supported by.

It considers:

• A home – There is a sense of home for both the person and Live in Supporter(s), irrespective of who physically owns or leases the dwelling.
• A sense of belonging – The person has their own life and also has the opportunity to connect with, and have a mutually respectful relationship with the people they live with and/or supported by.
• A role and purpose – The person and the live in supporter have the opportunity to contribute to both the relationship, the home and to a shared life and experiences.
• A say in the direction of life – The person has the right to identify and express their own ideas and preferences for their home environment, how they lead their day to day lives and their social and community interests, and is supported to pursue these.
• A connection with others – The persons is encouraged and supported to develop and maintain their own personal relationships, including those with their natural family and friends.
• A sense of equality and reciprocity – The person has an equal stake in the partnership. The relationship is based on equality not hierarchy. The person has something to offer the relationship based on their own uniqueness, gifts and experiences and likewise with the supporter.
• A safe and supportive lifestyle – The person has the opportunities afforded to all citizens and the risks associated with this, with the safety of being supported by people who know and understand them.

Western Australia has a strong history of exploring and supporting new ways to promote peoples’ choice, control and ability to determine and direct their own lives. Across the state, Creating Home has been an approach that people have been using for more than 20 years with a lot of success. It offers assistance or support, as well as real connections and relationships.

Creating Home aims to match the way relationships naturally work and develop. Creating Home is about sharing your lives. There are benefits to both parties – the people who need support and the people offering support. Both parties have lives to share and experiences to offer. This gives everyone a chance to have great experiences and a better life. People who share their lives and their homes talk about the good things it brings to their own lives and their families.

People who share their lives and their homes regularly report the great benefits to their own lives and their families.

The home is a place where people can develop mutual relationships. They are accepted and included as a valued member of the household and take part in the life of the support person (and their family, where applicable).

Creating Home can give you new opportunities and everyday life experiences that you might not have had in other support arrangements. Live in Supporters can also have new experiences because of the relationship with the person they are supporting.

Creating Home is not a:

• placement for a person with disability to make sure they have somewhere to live
• hostel or group service
• place where paid support workers come and go according to a work roster
• place where people are not included in each other’s lives
• group home for people with disability and carers who live there
• place where someone with complex needs is not included
• place where someone’s needs are met according to the service options that
  are available.

If you want to know more about Creating Home, including how it might work, contact us on (08) 9481 0101.

Use the links below to download the resource.  Plain Language and Easy Read versions are also available.

The NDIS vision is for people to have choice and control in goods and services that offer greater value, quality and lead to good outcomes.

Most importantly this means  greater choice and control for people over where they live, who they live with and the supports to live a typical life.

The focus of contemporary Individual Living Options (ILO) is on designing solutions one person at a time. Click here to find out more