Conditions we support
PSP and corticobasal degeneration support in Queensland
Rare. Complex. Planned for.
About the condition
Understanding PSP and corticobasal degeneration
PSP and CBD are rare brain conditions that get worse over time. Both are caused by a build up of a protein called tau, which damages brain cells. They are sometimes called atypical parkinsonism, because the first signs can look like Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's medicines usually help much less.
Progressive supranuclear palsy affects balance, movement and the eyes. Common signs include:
- falls early on, often backwards
- trouble moving the eyes, especially looking down
- stiffness, mainly in the neck and body
- slow, slurred speech and trouble swallowing
- slower thinking, losing motivation and acting on impulse.
Corticobasal degeneration usually starts on one side of the body. A hand or leg becomes stiff, clumsy or hard to control. The person may struggle to use it for everyday tasks, like holding a cup, even though it isn't weak. Changes in thinking and language often follow. Doctors often call this pattern corticobasal syndrome, because it can have more than one cause.
Both usually start in a person's 60s and are rarely inherited. There is no cure yet, but therapy, equipment and good support help.
Daily life
How it can affect daily life
PSP and CBD touch almost every part of the day.
Falls.
Sudden falls are common, especially in PSP. Some people stand up quickly without sensing the risk.
Seeing and reaching.
Trouble looking down makes plates, stairs and kerbs hard to see. In CBD, using one hand gets harder.
Swallowing.
Swallowing gets harder, which raises the risk of choking and chest infections.
Speech.
Speech can become slow, soft or slurred. In CBD, finding words can get harder.
Thinking and mood.
Slower thinking, losing interest, impulsive decisions and low mood.
Daily tasks.
Dressing, eating and moving need more help over time. Later, two workers may be needed for safe transfers.
Our support
How we support people living with PSP and corticobasal degeneration
We plan support around the biggest risks: falls, swallowing and communication. We follow therapy plans every day and report changes quickly.
Supported Independent Living
Homes set up for dementia and complex neurological needs, with 1:1 or 2:1 support only. Homes in Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North, Brisbane South, Ipswich, Logan, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville and Bundaberg.
High Intensity and Complex Care
Severe dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) management, PEG (feeding tube) feeding and 2:1 support, with Registered Nurse oversight, across Queensland.
Community Nursing
Registered Nurse led care at home, including PEG care, in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba.
Dementia Home Care
Personal care, meals, outings and overnight support at home, from a consistent team.
Medium Term Accommodation
A home sourced in 5 to 7 days, staffed 1:1 or 2:1.
Specialist Support Coordination
Planning ahead for equipment, housing and the next stage.
Hospital to Home
After a fall or chest infection, our Hospital to Home pathway brings accommodation, support and coordination into one plan.
Our team
Our team is trained for this.
PSP and CBD need workers who are ready before the first shift.
- Every person on our team is dementia trained, in every role.
- Every worker is trained on the person's own functional capacity assessment and behaviour support plan before their first shift with them.
- Clinical oversight by a Registered Nurse, who leads high intensity supports and community nursing and signs off worker competency.
For coordinators and hospital teams
Evidence, risk and why 1:1 matters.
PSP and CBD progress, and the main risks (falls, aspiration and communication breakdown) grow with them. Funding requests need evidence of current need and likely change. An admission after a fall or aspiration pneumonia is often the turning point.
Evidence that strengthens a request
- Specialist letter on diagnosis and expected progression
- Speech pathology swallowing assessment and mealtime plan
- OT functional capacity assessment, including transfers, equipment and overnight needs
- Physiotherapy report on mobility and falls risk
- Falls and choking incident data, and overnight records
- Behaviour support plan, where behaviours of concern are present
- Carer statement on current load
Why 1:1 or 2:1
Falls and choking happen without warning and need an immediate response. Reduced insight means the person may stand without waiting for help. Our homes run 1:1 and 2:1 only, with 2:1 for later stage transfers where assessed.
- Same day
- Referral response, always within 24 hours.
- 5 to 7 days
- Medium Term Accommodation home sourced.
- 7 to 14 days
- SIL placement.
- No charge
- Discharge meetings, case conferences and MDTs.
Funding
PSP, corticobasal degeneration and the NDIS
People living with PSP or CBD can apply to the NDIS if they meet the access requirements. These conditions often start in a person's 60s, so apply early, while the person is under 65.
Who can apply to the NDIS
To become an NDIS participant, a person generally needs to:
- be under 65 when they apply
- live in Australia
- be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a Protected Special Category Visa holder
- have a permanent impairment that substantially reduces their ability to manage everyday activities.
People who join the NDIS before they turn 65 can stay in the NDIS after 65. We can help gather evidence and guide you through the access process.
Reports should show how falls, swallowing, communication and thinking affect daily life, and how needs are likely to change. We can help.
In their words.
“As a referring clinician, I need to trust that the providers I recommend can match the complexity of my patients' conditions. Dementia Care Queensland is the only NDIS provider I refer dementia patients to without hesitation. Their coordinators ask the right questions, understand disease progression, and plan ahead.”
“We visited a lot of SIL houses before we found Dementia Care Queensland. Most of them felt like nursing homes with nicer curtains. But when we walked into one of these homes, it just felt different. It smelled like someone's house. The layout made sense. There were pictures on the walls. Our son, who has Young Onset Alzheimer's and is 49, walked in and didn't panic. That was the moment we knew.”
“I've referred to a lot of NDIS providers over the years. Most of them mean well, but dementia is complex, and it shows quickly when a coordinator doesn't really understand it. With Dementia Care Queensland, I refer and I don't worry. Their coordinators understand progression. They understand the family dynamics. And they pick up the phone. That's rarer than it should be.”
Questions about PSP and corticobasal degeneration
Related conditions
See all conditionsParkinson's in Queensland: where to start
This page is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own health or care, talk to your GP or specialist. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Complex needs, calmly met.
Referrals answered the same business day, always within 24 hours.