Following on from International Friendship Day, we’re celebrating another pair of pals at MADEC. Meet Steven and Roy, two friends who met, and live together, as part of a Supported Independent Living arrangement.
Supported Independent Living (SIL) gives you the chance to live independently as possible while having the supports you need in place. But it can also mean meeting new people and building lifelong friendships — like Steven and Roy who moved in together in 2022!
Initially a little shy, Roy was brought out of his shell by MADEC’s resident jokester Steven and from there an unbreakable bond was formed. The friends enjoy watching TV together, dining on Hot Wok, sharing stories and playing tricks on other community members! They have also supported one another through thick and thin, and advocate for one another whenever needed. Thick as thieves, the pair still laugh about past dinners together and games of Monopoly — although Steven is still recovering from his historic loss!
While Steven and Roy are incredibly close they do make room for Roy’s wife Joy to join in on the fun. For Joy, watching the friendship blossom has been a great part of Roy’s SIL arrangement. She notes it’s a benefit for older participants that the community needs to see more of.
“It reminds me that even as older participants, that have not been with the NDIS until later in life, they can still have meaningful lives and friendships… The community in general needs to be educated that this can happen for older folks too. There can be an option other than aged care facilities and being isolated from peers… you can make new friends when being cared for at home.”
Supported Independent Living with MADEC
At MADEC we can assist with a range of Supported Independent Living needs, including transition planning, applying for SIL through the NDIS, and of course, finding suitable housemates. If you’d like to discuss SIL, get in touch with us today.
