Medication assistance
NDIS Core support
Support to take medication safely as prescribed, such as reminders, prompting and help with preparing or administering doses.
The short answer
Medication assistance is support to take medication safely as prescribed, such as reminders, prompting and help preparing or giving doses.
About Medication assistance
Taking the right medication at the right time matters, and can be hard to manage alone. Support ranges from reminders and prompting, through to helping open packaging or setting up a dosette box, to giving doses where that is appropriate and agreed.
What a support worker can do depends on the person, the medication and the provider's policies. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise on what is needed, and many providers require a written medication plan. Workers should have relevant training and should record what is given.
Good practice includes checking that everyone involved has the same information, storing medications safely, and knowing what to do if a dose is missed or something goes wrong. Regular medication reviews with your doctor or pharmacist help make sure the plan still suits you.
Who is this service for?
People who need support to take medication safely, for example reminders, prompting or help preparing doses.
What a typical session looks like
Medication assistance means help with taking medicines safely and on time. Depending on your needs, this could be a reminder, help opening packaging, preparing or handing you your medicines, or recording that they have been taken. It never means changing the dose or type of medicine, which only a doctor or pharmacist can do.
A worker follows the medication plan from your doctor or pharmacist and keeps a record of what was given. They watch for side effects or changes, and let you, your family or your doctor know if something seems wrong. Reviews with a doctor or pharmacist keep your medicines up to date.
Who delivers this support
Support workers can assist with medication when they have been trained and the arrangement follows the provider's policy and your health professionals' advice. Nurses manage more complex or clinical medication tasks. Pharmacists can provide packing services such as dose administration aids and can review your medicines. Ask about the training workers have and how the provider manages medication safely.
How to choose a provider
- Ask how workers are trained in medication support.
- Check whether the provider uses written medication plans and records.
- Find out what happens if a dose is missed or an error occurs.
- Ask how they communicate with your doctor and pharmacist.
- Check how medications are stored.
Questions to ask a provider
- What training do your workers have in assisting with medication?
- How do you follow the instructions from my doctor or pharmacist?
- How do you record when medication is given?
- What happens if a dose is missed or a mistake is made?
- How do you keep my medicines stored safely?
- How will you tell my doctor if I have side effects or changes in health?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not keeping a current list of medicines that everyone can see.
- Having untrained workers handle medication.
- Not recording doses, which makes it hard to tell what has happened.
- Ignoring side effects instead of reporting them.
- Not reviewing medicines regularly with your doctor or pharmacist.
Getting started
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medication and provide a written list.
- Share it with your provider and agree what help is needed.
- Consider a dosette box or blister packs to make it easier.
- Review regularly and update the plan when your medication changes.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Medication support works with your GP, pharmacist, community nurse and support workers. Keeping an up-to-date list of your medicines and sharing it with everyone involved helps prevent errors. It also links with daily routines, since medicines are often taken at set times of day.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Medication assistance if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
Funding
Core supports help with everyday activities and are usually the most flexible part of an NDIS plan. If Medication assistance is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Core budget. Your plan shows how much you have and how it can be used. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.
What it costs
Supports such as Medication assistance that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.
Nursing providers on the NDIS register
8,227 NDIS providers list nursing supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing nursing
- 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
- 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
- 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
- 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
- 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
- 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
- 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
- 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
- 121 Best Care - QLD; includes Calamvale, QLD
- 13 Care Solutions - VIC; includes Cobblebank, VIC
- 13 Health Service Organisation - VIC; includes Donnybrook, VIC
- 13homecare - NSW; includes Doonside, NSW
See all 8,227 nursing providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (2,692)
- Victoria (2,375)
- Queensland (1,539)
- South Australia (857)
- Western Australia (812)
- Australian Capital Territory (207)
- Tasmania (156)
- Northern Territory (156)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (407)
- Melbourne, VIC (330)
- Sydney, NSW (246)
- Perth, WA (205)
- Central Coast, NSW (197)
- Adelaide, SA (185)
- Blacktown, NSW (169)
- Parramatta, NSW (155)
- Ipswich, QLD (140)
- Geelong, VIC (127)
- Tarneit, VIC (127)
- Canberra, ACT (125)
Listings covering the most areas
- Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
- Nurse Next Door Batemans Bay - 413 areas
- Hunter Valley Care & Assistance - 249 areas
- Nurse Next Door Ballarat - 233 areas
- Nurse Next Door Armidale - 230 areas
- Nurse Next Door Wagga Wagga - 207 areas
- Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
- Huge Care - 188 areas
Checking credentials
- Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
- Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
- Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.
Regulation and safeguards
NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What does medication assistance involve?
Support to take medication as prescribed, such as reminders and prompting, or help preparing or giving doses. The level of help depends on the person and on health advice.
Who decides what a worker can do?
Your doctor or pharmacist and the provider's policies set what is appropriate. Workers should be trained for the tasks they carry out and follow a written medication plan.
What should I ask a provider about medication support?
Ask how workers are trained, how medication is recorded and what happens if a dose is missed. Clear procedures are important.
Can any support worker give medication?
Not necessarily. It depends on their training and the provider's policies. Ask what workers are permitted to do.
What is a dosette box?
A container that holds a person's medication sorted by day and time. Pharmacists can prepare them.
Where can I get a medication review?
Your doctor or pharmacist can review your medications and explain what each one is for.
Can a support worker give me my medication?
In many cases they can help, provided they have been trained and follow your health professionals' instructions and the provider's policy. More complex tasks may need a nurse.
What is a dose administration aid?
It is a pack, often prepared by a pharmacist, that holds medicines organised by day and time so they are easier to take correctly.
What should I do if a dose is missed?
Check the advice from your pharmacist or doctor, since it varies from medicine to medicine. Do not double up unless you have been told to.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Medication assistance?
If Medication assistance is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
How do I find a Medication assistance provider near me?
Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.