If you're an NDIS participant approaching 65, or a family member helping someone who is, you're about to navigate one of the most confusing transitions in the system. Here's what to know.
The 65 cutoff
If you enter the NDIS before 65, you can stay on it for life. If you're 65 or older and not already an NDIS participant, you can't enrol, you're directed toward the My Aged Care system instead. The transition can feel arbitrary because it is.
If you're already on the NDIS
Nothing changes at 65 automatically. You keep your NDIS plan, your supports, your providers. Plans continue to be reviewed, and your goals can shift (retirement, grandchildren, different physical demands) but the framework stays the same.
You can choose to move to aged care if you prefer, but many participants don't, the NDIS is generally better resourced and more flexible.
Key principle: if you're on the NDIS before 65, stay on the NDIS. Moving to aged care is a one-way door and usually reduces what's available.
Aging-related changes
As participants age, needs often shift:
- More personal care support (showering, dressing, continence)
- Less community access, more in-home supports
- Greater need for predictability and same-worker continuity
- Transport needs (for appointments, social contact)
- Modifications to the home (bathroom, ramps, grab rails)
These should be reflected at your next plan review. Include your GP, occupational therapist, and physio input if you can.
Matching older participants
What matters most: gentleness, patience, conversational ease, and knowing how to move someone safely. Manual handling training becomes non-negotiable. Many of our best workers for older participants are workers who've also done aged care, bringing that calm rhythm to NDIS supports.
Family carers aging too
A related issue: the family carer (often a spouse or adult child) is also aging. Supports that were manageable 10 years ago become dangerous. Respite, additional hours, and eventual transition to supported accommodation may all become relevant. Raise this at reviews early, before it becomes a crisis.
When supports aren't enough anymore
If in-home support is no longer sustainable, options include:
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) within the NDIS
- Supported Independent Living (SIL)
- Residential aged care (if a switch to the aged care system is elected)
These are big decisions, talk to your coordinator, advocate, and family well before the moment of need.
This article is general information, not personal advice. Every NDIS plan is different, talk to your LAC, plan manager or support coordinator for guidance specific to your situation.