The intent of the
Fair Deal scheme
is to make residential home care for older people more accessible, affordable and anxiety free.
is to make residential home care for older people more accessible, affordable and anxiety free.
The Fair Deal (The Nursing Homes Support Scheme) came into effect on the 27th October 2009. It replaced the previous system of public nursing home charges and the private nursing home subvention scheme.
The intent of this scheme is to make residential home care for older people more accessible, affordable and anxiety free, by removing inconsistencies which currently exist in the system and improving the role the State plays in delivering and meeting the costs of this care.
In order to apply for the scheme you must be ordinarily resident in the State. Ordinarily resident means that you have been living in the State for at least a year or that you intend to live here for at least a year. Applications are made to your local Nursing Home Support Office on the standard application form.
1 An application for a Care Needs Assessment The Care Needs Assessment identifies whether you need long-term nursing home care. It will be carried out by a healthcare professional such as a nurse, who will consider whether you can be supported to continue living at home or whether long-term nursing home care is more appropriate.
2 An application for State Support This will be used to complete the Financial Assessment, which determines your contribution to care and your corresponding level of financial assistance from the HSE (“State Support”). The Financial Assessment looks at your income and assets in order to work out what your contribution to care will be. All of the relevant information needs to be supplied on the initial application form. Steps 1 and 2 must be completed by all applicants.
3 An optional step, if you wish to apply for the Nursing Home Loan This is termed “Ancillary State Support” in the legislation. Where your assets include land, housing or other property, the contribution based on such assets may be deferred. This means that you do not have to find the money to pay this contribution during your lifetime. Instead, if approved, the HSE will pay the money on your behalf and it will be collected after your death. This is an optional benefit of the scheme called the “Nursing Home Loan.
For more detailed information about the application process, download the HSE’s Nursing Home Support Scheme Booklet.
For Further Information on the Scheme, please contact your local HSE Nursing Homes Support Office or you can also call the HSE helpline on 850 24 1850 or visit the Department of Health website.
Galway Nursing Homes Support Office
HSE Nursing Homes Support Office, Community Services, Lá Nua, Ballybane Neighbourhood Village, Castlepark Road, Ballybane, Galway. Tel: 091 748485
Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary Nursing Homes Support Office
HSE Nursing Homes Support Office, St Joseph’s Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 461499