How to claim adjustable beds using the NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a program that supports people with disability, their families, and carers.
Along with providing broader support to assist people with disability achieve their goals and improve their general wellbeing, the NDIS provides funding that can be spent on further support.
Each individual that is approved for funding through the NDIS will work with a case manager to create a plan. This plan and manager will allow you to assess what you require to improve your quality of life.
For many people with disability, an adjustable mattress and bed can be literally life changing, and this is eligible to be funded by the NDIS.
More information on the NDIS and eligibility can be found via the NDIS website.
Can I use my funding at Life Changing Beds?
Life Changing Beds are a trusted provider of adjustable beds and mattress packages, but also pillows, mattress protectors, bed sticks, rails and more, all since January 2017 for NDIS customers.
All of our staff are NDIS module trained, and we have a wealth of experience working with occupational therapists and clients to provide tailored, pain-free sleep solutions under the NDIS.
To access a mattress via your NDIS plan, you must demonstrate that the mattress you want:
- Relates to your disability
- Is value for money, compared with alternatives, and
- Is effective and beneficial
In order to prove this, the NDIS requires an occupational therapist to conduct an assessment in-store with you. In fact, in order to claim any medium-high cost assistive technology (above $5,000) through the NDIS, a health professional must accompany any client to the store for assessment.
The consultation
Once you’ve decided with your NDIS case manager that you would like to use your funding on a mattress and bed, either yourself or your occupational therapist must simply give us a call to arrange an appointment for a full consultation with our team in-store.
At this appointment, we will sit down with you and your occupational therapist, and learn as much as we can about you, your issues and needs, and what you’re hoping to get out of a new mattress and bed. All this information will help us make the most informed recommendation possible.
Next, we’ll take you and your occupational therapist around our showroom and show our range of NDIS approved mattresses and beds that we believe will best suit your needs. This isn’t simply finding one that feels good. Both the occupational therapist and our team are there to find the option that will best suit your needs, and create real and lasting positive change in your life.
The occupational therapist will test and trial you across a number of our mattresses, and with more than 35 mattresses on display in our showroom, there really is something for everyone.
At Life Changing Beds, we offer exclusive pressure mapping technology that provides real-time clinical readings of how your body is reacting to each mattress. This, combined with our more than 35 years of expertise, allow us to precisely analyse your sleeping needs and provide even more personalised recommendations.
The report
At the conclusion of the appointment, when our team, your occupational therapist, and yourself have come to a consensus on the best options for you, the occupation therapist will request a number of quotes. For example, they may want separate quotes for single, double and queen sized beds, perhaps a cheaper alternative. We’ll write as many quotes as needed.
As part of the process, the NDIS requires the occupational therapist and client to trial and submit more than one option. Some clients will choose to visit other stores to meet this requirement.
The occupational therapist will then write a report, based on their consultations. The report will outline what they observed, make an informed recommendation, and provide clinical, professional justification for this recommendation.
This report will then be submitted, along with our quotes, for assessment and approval.
The Process Begins
Unfortunately, there is no way for us to speed up the NDIS approval process, and this can take anywhere from two weeks to two years.
But once your approval has been granted, you can rest assured knowing that we are here to make the installation as easy and stress-free as possible.
You’ve been approved
As soon as we’re given the green light from the NDIS, we will order the required stock from our suppliers. Timeframes for stock delivery can vary, due to supplier demand and the time of year, but as a rough indicator, you can expect your mattress to be ready in 10 business days, and your base within three to four weeks.
Once all the stock is in our warehouse, our logistics manager David will call you to arrange delivery and installation at your convenience. David and his team are all NDIS module trained, and very experienced in the process.
He will clean and tidy the area you’d like the bed to go, and complete the installation. He’ll make sure that the bed is adjusted to your height, and that you’re confident in operating the bed, in the case of adjustable beds and mattresses.
David can also remove your existing bed frame and mattress, if you’d like.
Rest easy with our Peace of Mind Policy
Your Life Changing Beds care doesn’t stop there. We offer a 150-night comfort and support guarantee on our recommended mattresses, to ensure your comfort for years to come. All of our mattresses come with a 10-16 year warranty, and 10-20 years for our adjustable bases.
And if you ever have any questions, queries or issues with your setup, we’ll be here to help.
We understand navigating the NDIS can be a confusing process, and we want to help make it as easy as possible. If you have any questions regarding accessing beds and mattresses via the NDIS, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 03 90414765 or book a consultation.