HealtH Matters 33
nursing homEs
the new Nursing Homes
support scheme, a Fair
Deal, began operating in
late October. It is a new
system of nursing home
support, which provides
financial assistance to
people in need of long-term
residential care.
a
fair
dEal
t
he new scheme aims to make case of a couple the assessment will be on “the Fair Deal scheme aims to make long
long-term nursing home care more the basis of half of the couple's combined term nursing home care accessible and
accessible and equitable, and income and assets. Where the applicant's affordable whether in a voluntary, public or
applications are accepted at 18 Nursing assets include land and property, the 5 per private care home and will free families from
Homes support Offices nationwide. the cent contribution based on such assets anxiety over financial commitments for the
scheme, which involves applicants having may be deferred. this means that the Hse care of their loved ones.”
a care needs and financial assessment, is will pay the money to the nursing home Further details of how the the Nursing
the same for all types of nursing home care on the applicant's behalf (basically, loan Homes support scheme act 2009
whether in public/voluntary or approved the money) and it will be collected after the operates, and an Information Booklet and
private nursing homes, and replaces the applicant's death. Questions and answers on all aspects
current Nursing Home subvention scheme. this is an optional benefit of the scheme, of the scheme are available on the Hse
the scheme is based on equitable the purpose of which is to ensure that the website and on the Hse Intranet for staff.
cost-sharing between the person receiving applicant doesn't have to sell assets such
care and the state, with the state paying as his/her home during his/her lifetime. In
the shortfall between what someone can addition the applicant's home will only be
afford to pay and the actual cost of the included in the financial assessment for
“the scheme is based on
nursing home care. Once a person has the first three years of his/her time in care -
been assessed as needing long-term care known as the 'three year' cap.
equitable cost-sharing
through the care assessment, the financial Persons currently in care will not require
between the person
assessment will work out how much a a care needs assessment and will not be
person can contribute to the cost of their disadvantaged financially under the new
receiving care and the
care by taking account of their income scheme. the scheme is resource-capped
state, with the state paying
and assets. and the Hse may only provide financial
essentially the assessment will establish support from within the resources allocated
the shortfall between what
a person's ability to contribute to their to the scheme in any given financial year by
someone can afford to pay
care costs based on 80 per cent of their the Oireachtas. Welcoming the scheme’s
assessable income and 5 per cent of the introduction Áine Brady, tD, Minister for
and the actual cost of the
value of their assets per annum. In the Older People and Health Promotion, said:
nursing home care”
health matters is 4.indd 33 27/11/2009 20:38:29
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