NDIS Support & Care for People with Motor Neurone Disease

Yes. Maple Community Services provides personalised NDIS support for people living with motor neurone disease. Our experienced Support Workers can assist with personal care, household tasks, community participation, travel, Supported Independent Living (SIL), and other supports that help participants maintain their independence and quality of life.

Absolutely. Motor neurone disease affects everyone differently, and support needs often change over time. We provide flexible, person-centred support that evolves alongside each participant, ensuring the right level of assistance is available as their needs and goals change.

Yes. We regularly collaborate with Neurologists, Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Allied Health Professionals, Support Coordinators, and other members of your care team to ensure your supports remain coordinated and aligned with your individual goals.

If you’re eligible for Supported Independent Living (SIL) through the NDIS, we can provide accommodation and personalised daily support tailored to your individual needs. Our focus is on creating a safe, comfortable environment that promotes dignity, choice, and the highest possible level of independence.

Our Support Workers for Motor Neurone Disease​ have studied and trained diligently to understand and respond to the needs of people with MND. You can feel confident and at ease with our Motor Neurone Disease​ Support Workers’ exceptional skills and qualifications. We pride ourselves on our years of experience providing MND support.

You’ll partner with a highly qualified MND specialist in Sydney or wherever you are in Australia to improve your or your loved one’s life and enhance your overall well-being.

Families choose Maple because we understand the importance of consistent, compassionate support as needs change over time. Our experienced team works closely with participants, families, and healthcare professionals to provide personalised care that helps maintain comfort, independence, and quality of life.

Our extensive experience, capacity for 24/7 support, and strong community spirit set us apart when it comes to Motor Neurone Disease support services. Our pervading family values and friendly specialists give you and your loved ones peace of mind and unmatched support to pursue a happy, fulfilling, and independent life.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that is most commonly diagnosed in older adults in their 60s or 70s, though it can affect adults of any age.

It is a progressive neurological condition that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. 

Over time, it can impact movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing, with symptoms and progression varying from person to person.

Beyond supportive care, there are medications that can also slow or improve patients’ experience of symptoms and need for additional support. With proper treatment, patients are living longer and better. Maple can help patients get the care and treatments they need.

Yes. If you or your loved one suffers from MND, it is covered under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and you may be eligible for funding to avail of our support services.

Motor Neurone Disease is in the List A category of NDIS eligibility. However, your loved one’s diagnosis must have been classed as severe to meet the requirements for List A (for example: assessed as Level 3, 4, or 5 on the Gross Motor Function Classification System – GMFCS). If this is the case, then you’re very likely to be approved for funding. If you don’t have a diagnosis of severe MND, you may fall under List B, which means further functional assessment may be necessary before being approved for NDIS funding.

At Maple, we can assist you in the assessment process to see if you or your loved one qualifies for NDIS MND benefits. If you or your loved one meets the criteria, we have the capacity to provide comprehensive services to enhance your quality of life.

The NDIS funds several critical services for people with Motor Neurone Disease. These include speech and occupational therapy, consumable and assistive technologies, physiotherapy, personal care support, nutritional support, and behavioural support. NDIS funding can even pay for a Support Worker to assist you or your loved one at home. Plan Management and Support Coordination Funding are almost always offered to NDIS Participants when they receive their plan. The types and amounts of funding available are determined in part by the severity of functional loss.

For children younger than seven years of age, NDIS funding provides early interventions, takes a family-centred approach, and helps families connect with MND service providers. At Maple, we can assist you or your loved one with the NDIS application to receive your or your loved one’s needed funding.

NDIS provides access to independent assessments for children and adults to determine their level of functioning. Rather than focusing on the specific diagnosis, these MND assessments are designed to determine the functional deficits of your or your loved one’s disability and level of impairment requiring support in everyday life. Talk to one of our Motor Neurone Disease​ Support Workers for more details.

MND most often begins with muscle weakness in the hands, feet, or voice, although it can present in different parts of the body with varying patterns, symptoms, and rates of progression. People with MND become increasingly disabled as the disease progresses with a life expectancy of one to five years after diagnosis. Only 10 percent of people with MND live 10 years or more after diagnosis.

People living with MND have complex and varying needs. The physical effects of MND frequently include weakness or fatigue; muscle aches and cramps; clumsiness and stumbling; slurred speech or difficulty swallowing and chewing; muscle wasting and weight loss; emotional instability and cognitive changes; and difficulty breathing. As the disease progresses, patients will develop generalised paralysis, inability to speak or eat normally, weakness of their respiratory muscles, and mild behavioural and cognitive changes.

The cause of MND is unknown, but there are many theories and extensive research into possible inciting mechanisms. Nonetheless, five to ten percent of cases are known to be genetically linked. As patients’ functional status declines, they will require increasing levels of care and support.

Yes. Many people living with motor neurone disease continue living at home with the right combination of family support, healthcare, assistive technology, home modifications, and NDIS-funded services. The level of support required often changes as the condition progresses.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but many people find it helpful to explore support options early, so they have more time to understand what’s available, involve their family, and make informed decisions about the future.