Nursing Homes Vs Home Care
There are 677,000 people over the age of 66 currently in Ireland, by 2050 there will be 1.8million
Before deciding on Nursing Home Care or Home Care for you or your loved one(s), it is important that you go through your care options. Here are some factors about Nursing Homes and Home Care that you should consider before you make your final decision.
Nursing Homes
A nursing home is a residential care facility for the elderly or disabled
There are currently 460 Private and Voluntary Nursing Homes with 25,000 beds nationwide. More than a quarter (26.6%) of Ireland’s private nursing home beds are located in Dublin with a further 10.3% (2,509) located in Cork. Many people who had low medical care needs preferred nursing home living because they had felt lonely living on their own and as nursing homes allow residents to mix together and socialise, it felt like the better option for them. Although Nursing Homes can be helpful for some families, according to the HSE “only about 5% of all older people ever need residential or nursing home care”.
Fair Deal Scheme
The Fair Deal Scheme, also known as the Nursing Home Support Service (NHSS) is operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE). You would firstly make a contribution to the cost of the care and the HSE would cover the remainder. For example, your weekly care costs are €1200 and your weekly contribution is €600, State support under the HSE will cover the remaining €600. Approved private nursing homes, voluntary nursing homes and public nursing homes are covered in the scheme. The Comptroller’s report said that by 2018 the “Fair Deal” scheme was supporting more than 23,000 people with the cost of their nursing home care. The HSE paid out €969 million with an additional €343 million provided to nursing homes in 2018 in the form of residents’ contributions. There are about 550 nursing homes covered by the scheme with about 80 per cent in the private and voluntary sector.
It is important to note that the Fair Deal Scheme only covers long-term nursing home care. It does not cover short-term stay or respite care however, these services may be available in certain nursing homes.
Services
You can expect the following services to be covered:
· Bed and board
· Nursing and personal care (appropriate to the level of care needs of the person)
· Laundry service and;
· Basic aids and appliances
Costs
On average, you can expect a cost of €1325 per week for Nursing Care. To see the agreed prices of voluntary and private Nursing Homes across Ireland, please click here.
Submitting an Application
When you apply, your care needs will be assessed and your financial situation will also be reviewed to determine the contribution amount you will be required to pay. The financial assessment will review all of your income as well as assets, such as houses and savings. If your contribution is less than the care fees, the HSE will pay the remainder. As the Fair Deal Scheme is funded at a specific level each year, there may be times when a person's name must be added to a waiting list until funding becomes available. If this is the case, the HSE will inform you when it writes to determine if you are entitled for State Support.
Homecare, as opposed to care offered in group settings such as clinics or nursing homes, is health or supportive care provided by a professional caregiver in the patient's or client's own home. Home care is also known as domiciliary care, social care, and
in-home care.
Home Care
Home care services are essential in allowing people of all ages with healthcare needs to remain as independent as possible in their own homes and communities. It is often the first-choice for Senior’s. Homecare is care delivered in the comfort of the person’s home. Whether the person needs hourly visits (daily, weekly or monthly) or full-time care such as live-in care, home care can be tailored to work for you and your family
In Ireland, home care services are mainly used by seniors but it is also available to some people with disabilities and other identified care needs including services for people leaving hospital who need support.
Services
Visiting Care
Visiting care is given in the home on an hourly or drop-in basis. Our professional and experienced caregiver can come to your home at times convenient to you and provide you with physical, emotional, and personal care. Assistance with chores, prescription monitoring, and feeding are all examples of the care that can be delivered. Visiting care allows you to live independently and improve your quality of life.
Cost: €12.50 - €17 gross per hour
Live-in Care
Live-in care allows you to stay in the comfort of your home even if you require 24-hour care. Our live-in carers live in your home with you and provide you with the physical, emotional, and personal care that you require. Live-in care gives you and your family the reassurance that you are cared for throughout the day and night.
Cost: €12 - €14 gross per hour
Respite Care
Whether it's for a few hours a week or a long vacation, respite care will help alleviate the stress of family caregiving while also restoring vitality and promoting harmony in your life. While you are caring for yourself, we will be providing the highest quality of care to your loved one.
Cost: €12.50 per hour - €14.50 per hour
Tax Relief
When it comes to home care, you can also avail of up to 40% Tax Relief on the cost of hiring a caregiver.
You, your spouse or civil partner may claim tax relief in respect of the cost of employing a person (including a person whose services are provided by or through an agency) to take care of either -
a family member (including yourself, your spouse or civil partner) who is totally incapacitated by reason of physical or mental infirmity; or
a relative who is totally incapacitated by reason of physical or mental infirmity. Relative in this context includes a relation by marriage or civil partnership and includes an individual in respect of whom the claimant is or was the legal guardian.
You can find out more about Tax Relief by clicking here.
Benefits of Homecare
Affordable Care (including Tax Relief of up to 40%)
One-to-One Care
Personalised and Dedicated Care
Maintaining Independence
Comfort at Home
Submitting an Application
If you would like to submit an application for Royal Homecare’s Home Care Services, you can do so by clicking here or alternatively, we can schedule a 20 minute call to complete the application with you online.
Our 7-step process once we receive your completed application
1) Your application will be transferred into a PDF password-protected document.
2) Our recruiters will discuss the placement with our Candidates and those who are interested will need to go through a first round interview with our recruitment team. They will be asked questions based on the Client’s requirements stated on the application.
3) Royal Homecare will shortlist the candidates that we believe are the most suitable for the Client. We will then send the Client the Candidate(s) CV’s.
4) Clients will review the CV’s and either shortlist again or request interviews with the Candidate(s).
5) RH will assist in setting up the interviews and will provide you with feedback from the Candidate(s) after the interview.
6) After we receive feedback from both parties, Clients will let us know which Candidate(s) they would like to offer the job to within 2 working days. Candidates will also need to provide us with confirmation of acceptance within 2 working days.
7) Once a start date has been confirmed by the Client and Candidate, RH will prepare and send out Contracts of Employment which Clients and Candidates must sign (digitally).
References
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/residentialcare/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/weekly-costs-in-public-nursing-homes-over-60-higher-than-private-ones-1.4326798
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/people-at-higher-risk/visiting-nursing-homes-care-facilities/
https://resources.amedisys.com/benefits-home-health-care
https://www.ageaction.ie/how-we-can-help/information/questions-about-nursing-homes/admissions
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