The recently announced HSE Service Plan 2014 proposes, among other changes and cuts, to move €23 million from the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) “A Fair Deal” to Home Care Packages and other community support services. This could be seen as a move to encourage elderly people to stay in their own homes, however, according to Nursing Homes Ireland, it will mean around 939 less elderly people will get financial support towards a nursing home place. According to chief executive Tadhg Daly, the demand for nursing home care is growing. At the end of September 1,268 people were waiting for support under the Fair Deal scheme.
What will this mean for the elderly people who are too ill or otherwise not capable enough, even with home help and carers, to remain at home? How will such people and their families cope when they know that what is needed is around-the-clock care to get up, wash, use the bathroom, etc.
According to the Service Plan, this initiative will provide approximately 190 intensive home care packages at a time, benefiting approximately 250 people in a full year.
More about this in the press:
- Irish Independent: Hundreds in need of nursing home care face delays
- Irish Times: HSE service plan an “austerity charter” – IMO
- Irish Times: ‘Austerity charter’ rejected by doctors and Opposition
Are you or someone you care for currently on a waiting list for the Fair Deal nursing home scheme? Do you want to share your experience, and your view on how this funding shift will affect you? Please leave a comment.