Your first Short Term Accommodation stay can feel like a big step.
You may be excited about doing something different, nervous about spending time away from your usual care arrangements or unsure about exactly what will happen.
Parents and carers can feel the same way.
There are often a lot of questions before a first STA experience.
Who will be there? What should I bring? What will I do? What happens if I feel uncomfortable? Can I still speak to my family?
Knowing what to expect can make the experience much easier.
NDIS Short Term Accommodation, or STA, gives eligible participants time apart from their usual care arrangements while continuing to receive the disability-related support they need.
The NDIS currently refers to this support as Short Term Accommodation. It was referred to as Short Term Respite for a period before the terminology changed back to Short Term Accommodation following community feedback.
Preparing for a first STA experience can help participants and families feel more familiar with what to expect and provide an opportunity to discuss the participant’s individual support needs beforehand.
Before Your First STA Stay
Preparation can make a significant difference to how comfortable a participant feels about their first Short Term Accommodation experience.
Before you arrive, it can be helpful to share information with your support provider about your needs, preferences and usual routines.
This is an opportunity to explain what your normal day looks like, what you enjoy and what you need support with.
Useful information may include:
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Your usual morning and evening routines
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Communication preferences
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Personal care requirements
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Medication and health-related support
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Food preferences and dietary requirements
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Sensory needs
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Favourite activities
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Things you do not like
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What helps you relax
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What can make you anxious or uncomfortable
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Sleep routines
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Any important behaviours or support strategies
Do not worry about giving too much information.
Small details can make a big difference when someone is spending time away from their usual care arrangements for the first time.
For example, knowing that you like listening to music before bed, prefer a particular morning routine or need some quiet time after being out in the community can help support workers make the experience feel more familiar.
Ask Plenty Of Questions
It can help to know what to expect before your STA stay begins.
If something is unclear, ask.
You may want to know:
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Where will I be staying?
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Who will support me?
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Will anyone else be staying there?
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What can I do during the stay?
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Can I choose how I spend my time?
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What should I bring?
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Can I call or message my family?
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What happens if I feel nervous?
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What if I want some quiet time?
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What support will be available during my stay?
Parents and carers should also feel comfortable asking questions.
Discussing these things beforehand can help participants, parents and carers understand how the stay will work and feel more comfortable about what to expect.
Visiting Beforehand Can Help
For some participants, arriving somewhere new for an overnight stay can be a lot to take in.
Where the provider and circumstances allow, becoming familiar with the environment beforehand may make the transition easier.
This might involve visiting the location, meeting members of the support team or learning more about where you will sleep and spend your time.
Even knowing what the environment looks like can reduce uncertainty.
Some participants may prefer to begin with a shorter experience before progressing to a longer or overnight stay where suitable arrangements are available.
There is no single right approach.
The best preparation is the one that suits the individual.
What Should You Pack?
Before your stay, check with your provider about what is supplied and what you will need to bring.
It can still help to prepare a simple packing list.
Depending on the stay, you may need:
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Clothing
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Pyjamas
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Comfortable shoes
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Toiletries
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Medication
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Personal care items
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Communication devices
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Phone or tablet chargers
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Headphones
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Any required mobility or support equipment
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Favourite entertainment
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Comfort or sensory items
Bringing something familiar from home can be especially helpful during a first stay.
That might be a favourite pillow, blanket, book, game, headphones or another item that helps you relax.
Remember that current NDIS guidance does not allow Short Term Accommodation funding to be used for the cost of food or meals, so it is worth discussing meal arrangements and any associated costs with your provider before your stay.
What Happens When You Arrive?
When you arrive, you may spend some time becoming familiar with the environment and settling in.
Your support worker may show you around and explain where everything is.
Depending on the accommodation, this might include:
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Where you will sleep
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Where your belongings can go
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The bathroom
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The kitchen
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Areas where you can relax
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Outdoor or shared areas
You can also talk with your support team about how you would like to spend your time during the stay.
You do not need to start doing things immediately.
Some people like to explore and get started straight away.
Others may need some time to sit down, unpack and become familiar with the environment.
Both approaches are completely fine.
What Will I Do During STA?
There is no single schedule that every participant has to follow.
How you spend your time will depend on your individual circumstances, preferences and support arrangements.
For example, a participant might spend the morning completing their usual routine with support, head out into the community, return for some downtime and then choose a relaxing activity in the evening.
Another participant may prefer something much quieter.
Depending on your interests and arrangements, activities could include:
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Going for a walk
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Visiting the local community
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Cooking or practising everyday skills
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Watching movies
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Playing games
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Listening to music
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Spending time outdoors
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Practising everyday living skills
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Participating in suitable community activities
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Simply relaxing
Where appropriate, participants can be involved in choosing how they would like to spend their time.
It is important to remember that STA funding does not cover costs such as entertainment, activity entrance fees or holiday experiences, even though a participant may choose to take part in activities using their own money or other appropriate funding.
Your Normal Routine Can Still Continue
Spending time somewhere different does not mean your entire routine needs to change.
Keeping familiar parts of the day can make a first STA experience easier for some participants.
If you normally follow a particular medication routine or like to wind down in a certain way before bed, discuss this with your support team.
The same applies to sensory regulation, personal care, communication and other important routines.
A different environment can already feel unfamiliar.
Keeping some familiar parts of the day can help create a sense of comfort and predictability.
What If You Feel Nervous Or Homesick?
Feeling nervous before a first STA stay is understandable.
You are doing something unfamiliar and may be spending time away from people who normally provide your day-to-day support.
If you are feeling anxious or uncomfortable, let your support worker know so they can understand what support may be helpful.
Depending on your needs and the arrangements for the stay, this might include having some quiet time, doing something familiar or staying in contact with someone you trust.
Sometimes the first stay is simply about becoming comfortable with the experience.
You do not need to achieve everything at once.
Staying In Contact With Family
If staying in contact with family or your usual support network is important to you, discuss this with your provider before the stay.
Agreeing on communication arrangements beforehand can help everyone know what to expect.
Depending on the participant and the arrangements for the stay, this might include:
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Calling home in the evening
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Sending a message
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Video chatting
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Checking in at an agreed time
For some participants, regular contact can be reassuring during their first few experiences.
Over time, they may become more comfortable and need less contact.
There is no single right way to approach it.
Your First Stay Does Not Need To Be Perfect
Your first Short Term Accommodation experience can also be a learning opportunity.
The participant learns what spending time apart from their usual care arrangements feels like.
The family learns what helps them feel comfortable about STA.
The support team can learn more about what works well for the participant.
After the stay, it can be useful to think about:
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What did you enjoy?
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What was your favourite part?
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Was anything uncomfortable?
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Did you feel listened to?
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Were your routines supported appropriately?
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Was there anything you would change?
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What would you like to do differently next time?
That feedback can help make future stays even better.
Building Confidence One Stay At A Time
For some participants, their first overnight STA experience can be a significant milestone.
It might be the first time they have spent a night away from their parents, family or usual support network.
That confidence can build over time.
The first stay may be focused on becoming comfortable in a different environment.
The next might involve making more choices or becoming more familiar with different support workers.
Over time, STA can provide opportunities to develop greater confidence and independence while still having appropriate disability-related support available.
There is no need to rush that process.
Preparing For Your First STA Stay With Rize Support
At Rize Support, we understand that a first Short Term Accommodation stay can feel like a big step for both participants and families.
That is why we focus on getting to know the individual before the stay begins.
We want to understand routines, interests, support needs, communication preferences and the things that help each participant feel comfortable.
From there, we can help create an experience that feels familiar enough to be reassuring while still giving participants opportunities to enjoy something different.
That may involve suitable community activities, everyday living skills, relaxed time at the accommodation or simply becoming comfortable spending time apart from their usual care arrangements.
Most importantly, participants are supported at their own pace.
Contact Rize Support today to learn more about preparing for your first NDIS Short Term Accommodation stay and how we can help make the experience positive and comfortable.
