High-intensity supports
A Guide to Epilepsy and Seizure Supports
Epilepsy and seizures affect people differently. For some people, their epilepsy may not have a big impact on their life — they may be able to manage their epilepsy with medication and services provided through the health system. For others, their epilepsy may have a big impact on their life, affecting their education, employment, lifestyle, health, social and family life.
Through this guide, you’ll learn more about what disability supports are available to people with epilepsy or who experience seizures.
What is Epilepsy Support?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the brain, defined by the tendency to have regular and recurrent seizures. A seizure occurs when normal activity of the brain is interrupted, causing the neurons to fire rapidly. There are many types of seizures and a person’s experience can differ greatly. Not all seizures are diagnosed as epilepsy.
Various supports are available to help a person with disability manage their epilepsy in the way they want and need.
Typically, Support Workers provide to people with epilepsy support to participate in activities of daily living, such as recreation, education or employment activities. Support Workers can monitor for seizures and safely support someone who experiences a seizure, as directed by the person’s Epilepsy Management Plan.
Support Workers can also provide support with assistive technologies related to epilepsy support, which includes things like seizure monitor alarm systems, a seizure mat for a bed, and/or an oximeter.
Epilepsy Support and NDIS funding
The Australian health system provides treatment for epilepsy for everyone. The NDIS funds epilepsy supports if they’re related to someone’s disability. The NDIS may fund epilepsy supports if someone’s disability means they can’t monitor or manage their epilepsy on their own.
NDIS funding for Epilepsy Support comes under the “Disability Related Health Supports” category of your funding.
You can learn more about Disability Related Health Supports on the NDIS website.
What is an Epilepsy or Seizure Management Plan?
An epilepsy or seizure management plan outlines how someone should be safely supported if they experience a seizure. This plan is tailored to the person’s needs, preferences and their environment. It includes information about:
- Seizure information: The types, frequency and pattern of seizures; known seizure triggers; signs to look for before and after seizures
- Seizure support needs: How the person should be safely supported during and post-seizure, including when to call an ambulance
- Known risks and how to reduce them: This might include swimming, bathing, mobility, overnight support
- Medication Details: Regular medications that are prescribed to control seizures, as well as emergency epilepsy medication (such as Midazolam) and instructions on when and how to administer.
- Seizure records: Where and how any seizure activity should be recorded (for example, in an App like Maslow or Seer, using a hard copy notebook, etc.)
Who Writes an Epilepsy or Seizure Management Plan?
A Neurologist or General Practitioner will develop the plan.
Writing an epilepsy or seizure management plan is a team effort, bringing together the person with disability, their family, support workers and other services (such as recreation, education or employment).
How Hireup can help with Epilepsy Supports
Hireup is Australia's largest NDIS-registered online provider
Hireup has an experienced team of Specialised Support Relationship Managers who support people with disability who have epilepsy support needs.
We work closely with the individual, their family and support network, and health professionals. We provide specific training to our support workers and ensure the successful implementation of the epilepsy management plan, always aiming to reduce the risk of individuals experiencing a seizure during support.
