Mrs Kate Sullivan1, Mrs Rachel Corea1
1Monash Health, Clayton, Australia
Abstract:
Since National disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rolled out in 2020, health care workers, patients and their families have been navigating through a complex service delivery model. These complexities have often resulted in long stay admissions for those who are cleared for discharge but require the implementation of NDIS funded supports to safely return to living in the community. Previous studies have identified the impact of NDIS barriers on the health care system and patients. However, there is a gap in research specifically focused on the psychosocial impact of extended hospital admission relating to the NDIS.
Our study is to identify the psychosocial impacts of these extended hospital stays on NDIS participants and their support systems; build upon existing research by exploring areas of, and impacts on, emotional wellbeing, mental health, finances, independence, choice and control, relationships and social connectedness.
Using a thematic analysis, the study found that the primary psychosocial impacts were on participants and their families, their relationships with themselves, their support systems and their community. Whether the psychosocial impact felt by the participant of the study, was positive or negative, was influenced by factors such as communication, choice and control and individual attitudes and experiences.
The hope of this study is that there is further exploration into these themes to ensure better outcomes for long stay hospital patients who require NDIS funded supports and services to re-enter the community.