SIL vs ILO: Understanding NDIS Home & Living Supports | Gold Coast OT
Choosing the right NDIS home and living supports can feel overwhelming. You may or may not have heard terms like Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Individualised Living Options (ILO), but what do they actually mean, and how do you know which option may be appropriate?
At Mindful Beings Occupational Therapy, our Occupational Therapists help participants, families and support teams understand how disability impacts everyday life and what supports may help a person live as safely and independently as possible.
NDIS Home & Living Supports
SIL and ILO are just two options that may form part of a person's broader NDIS home and living supports.
Depending on the person's needs, other supports such as home modifications, assistive technology or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) may also need to be considered.
🏠 What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is designed for people who need regular support with everyday activities in their home.
This may include:
Showering, dressing and personal care
Meal preparation
Medication management
Household tasks
Developing daily living skills
Accessing the community
Overnight support, where required
SIL is generally suited to people who have significant support needs and require regular assistance to live as independently as possible.
The amount and type of support required will depend on the person's individual circumstances.
🌿 What are Individualised Living Options (ILO)?
Individualised Living Options (ILO) provide a more flexible approach to living arrangements.
Rather than being based around a particular type of accommodation or support model, ILO focuses on creating a living arrangement that works for the individual.
An ILO may involve living:
🏡 On your own
👫 With a housemate or friend
🤝 With a host
🏘️ With other people in a shared arrangement
The person's living preferences, relationships, goals and support needs are all considered when developing the arrangement and your OT will support advocating for you based on your current functional capacity.
For someone who wants to move out of the family home but doesn't require support throughout the day, an ILO may be an option worth exploring if you are eligible.
SIL vs ILO: What's the Difference?
There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. The right option depends on the person's functional capacity, support needs, goals, living situation and preferences.
🏠 SIL
Regular support at home
✓ May suit significant support needs
✓ Regular assistance with everyday activities
✓ May include overnight support
✓ Support may be required across multiple parts of the day
🌿 ILO
A flexible living arrangement
✓ Built around the individual ✓ Flexible approach to how and with whom someone lives ✓ May involve a host, housemate or friend ✓ Considers relationships, preferences, goals and support needs
🔍 What Role Does an Occupational Therapist Play?
An Occupational Therapist (OT) can assess how a person's disability impacts their everyday activities and identify their functional support needs. Rather than simply looking at what someone can or cannot do, an OT may consider:
🧍 FUNCTION - What can the person do independently?
🤝 SUPPORT - Where, when and how much assistance is required?
🌙 OVERNIGHT NEEDS - Is support required overnight?
🏠 ENVIRONMENT - Does the home support or restrict independence?
🎯 GOALS - How does the person want to live?
👨👩👧 SUPPORT NETWORK - What formal and informal supports are currently available?
The OT's role is to assess, recommend and document the person's functional support needs.
📋 Building the Evidence
When considering SIL, one assessment or one person's opinion doesn't tell the whole story.
Evidence from multiple sources can help build a clearer picture of the person's everyday functioning and support needs.
How Does the SIL Process Work?
An OT assessment may form part of the evidence used when exploring SIL.
Remember: the OT's role is to assess, recommend and document functional support needs.
🏡 SIL is About Support – Not the House
This is an important distinction when navigating NDIS home and living supports.
👥 SIL = SUPPORT
The support a person receives to assist with everyday activities at home.
🏠 SDA = SPECIALISED HOUSING
Specialist Disability Accommodation relates to specialised housing for eligible participants.
🔨 HOME MODIFICATIONS = CHANGES TO THE HOME
Changes to the home environment to improve accessibility, safety or independence.
A person's housing needs and support needs are considered separately.
How can our team of Occupational Therapists help you with your home and living applications?
At Mindful Beings Occupational Therapy, we take a person-centred approach to understanding functional capacity and support needs.
Our Occupational Therapists can assess how disability impacts everyday activities, gather evidence from multiple sources and provide clear recommendations to help support NDIS decision-making.
If you're considering SIL, ILO or other NDIS home and living options, an OT assessment can help you better understand your current abilities, support needs and goals.
Need help understanding your NDIS home and living options?
Get in touch with Mindful Beings Occupational Therapy on the Gold Coast to discuss how our Occupational Therapists can help.
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