Let’s play a quick game of “Imagine If” to understand the reality of ageing with disability.
Imagine you are 60+ years old. Your knees ache in the morning, your energy dips after lunch, and honestly, you have worked hard your whole life. You have earned the right to slow down, potter in the garden, or just watch The Chase with a cup of tea.
Now, picture a different reality. Instead of relaxing, a minibus pulls up to your house every single morning at 8:30 am. A support worker ushers you out the door, drives you to a noisy community hall, and encourages you to participate in “capacity building” arts and crafts for six hours.
You would feel grumpy, right? You might even refuse to board the bus.
If you couldn’t tell people why you were tired, you might even flip a table.
In the corporate world, they’d call this “burnout.” In the disability sector, we slap a “Behaviour of Concern” label on it and hire a behavioural practitioner. I call it a reasonable reaction to a system that forgot you are allowed to get old.
The Story of Peter
I want to tell you about Peter.
Peter is a 63-year-old gentleman with a moderate intellectual disability and a heart of gold. For most of his adult life, Peter has been a creature of habit: up, breakfast, bus, day program, home. This routine was his “work,” and he took pride in it.
Then, the wheels fell off. Peter started refusing to leave his bed. He argued with the staff and acted grumpily on the bus. At the day centre, the normally affable Peter withdrew from his friends and refused to join activities.
Suddenly, quiet, well-behaved Peter was rocking the boat, and he couldn’t articulate why. In fact, he felt just as distressed by his behaviour as the staff and his housemates.
So, naturally, the system panicked.
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Is he sick? (Doctors said no).
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He must be depressed? (The GP prescribed antidepressants).
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Maybe it’s dementia? (… or maybe not).
The medication made him more tired and agitated. Suddenly, Peter wasn’t just “tired”, he was labelled “non-compliant.” Support workers started whispering about whether they could still manage his “behaviours.”
Yet, nobody stopped to ask the simplest question of all: Would a person without a disability still be working full-time at this age?
The Science We Ignore (Because it’s Inconvenient)
We need to stop pretending that everyone ages at the same rate.
The medical data has been clear for decades, yet the NDIS planning process often glosses over it.
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Premature Ageing is Real: People with intellectual disabilities often experience frailty and mobility decline significantly earlier than the general population.
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The Down Syndrome Factor: The link between Down Syndrome and early-onset Alzheimer’s is well-established. According to Down Syndrome Australia, significant cognitive decline can begin in the 40s or 50s for many.
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“Diagnostic Overshadowing”: This term describes when doctors assume physical symptoms are just “part of the disability.” In Peter’s case, his “behaviour” was actually his body screaming for a rest.
The 2025 Reality: Why the “Minibus” Persists
It is 2025. We have all the technology and funding structures to support a flexible life. So why, in so many SDA and SIL arrangements, does the ‘8:30 am exodus’ still happen?
Let’s be real…it’s all about the roster.
Many Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers build their quotes on the assumption that residents leave the house during the day. This model allows them to drop staffing levels to a bare minimum between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.
If Peter wants to retire and stay home to watch movies, the provider must roster a staff member to stay with him. That requirement eats into the margin. It disrupts the flow. Plus, it may require a “Change of Circumstance” form that nobody wants to fill out.
So, the path of least resistance is to put Peter on the bus. That approach is simply not good enough.
How to Build an NDIS Retirement Plan for the “Peters” We Support
Support Coordinators and savvy family members hold the power to stop the minibus. However, you must be proactive. You need to build the “Retirement Context” into the plan before the burnout hits.
Here is your cheat sheet for the next planning meeting:
- Stop Funding “Work,” Start Funding “Life”: Review the Core Supports. If the NDIS locks the budget into “Group Activities,” push for flexibility. You need funding for 1:1 support in the home, not just centre-based programs.
- Re-frame the Goals: Avoid writing goals about “learning new skills” or “job readiness” for people over 60 years old. Instead, write goals about maintaining health, preserving mobility, and social connection. If the goal is “wellbeing,” then a nap in the afternoon represents a valid, funded activity.
- The “Part-Time” Model: Retirement doesn’t have to be cold turkey. Propose a 3-day “work” week.
- Mon/Wed/Fri: Day program (socialising).
- Tue/Thus: “Rest days” at home with a support worker coming in to help cook lunch or do some gardening.
- Bring the Community In: Use Community Participation funding creatively. Why must Peter go out to socialise? Use the funds to help him host a BBQ or an afternoon tea at his house. This strategy shifts the dynamic from him being a “client” in a centre to a “host” in his own home.
The Bottom Line
We need to treat our ageing participants with the reverence they deserve. They are the elders of our community. They have navigated a world that wasn’t built for them for decades.
Peter doesn’t need a Behaviour Support Plan or more pills. He needs permission to stop “working.”
He needs us to look at him and say, “Mate, you’ve done enough. Put your feet up. How do you want to spend your day?”
That is the natural progression we all deserve. Let’s make sure the NDIS delivers it.
Have you got someone ready to slow down and ease into retirement?
At CoAbility, we believe retirement is a right, not a luxury. If you know someone like Peter, who feels ready to hop off the minibus and into a slower pace of life, we can help. Our Support Coordinators understand the system, and we know how to facilitate a dignified transition to retirement.
Contact CoAbility today, and let’s start planning a retirement worthy of all that hard work.
