Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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563. To ask the Minister for Health the steps families may take and the supports available in relation to difficulties they are experiencing with the costs of keeping a loved one in a private nursing homes, who in some cases are being charged extraordinary weekly top ups and prices for basic supports like a pressure relieving mattress; if there is monitoring by the Health Service Executive or his Department of these type of extra charges; and if there are guidelines for families available in relation to excessive charges that sometime arise in the private nursing home sector [42069/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services in nursing homes. The cost of care in each nursing home that is participating in the Scheme is available on the HSE website at .

The services which fall within the scope of long-term residential care are:

- nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;

- bed and board;

- basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living and,

- laundry service.

A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the Medical Card Scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme, is unaffected by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. In other words, a person can continue to receive goods and services in accordance with the terms of these other schemes regardless of whether they are in a private nursing home or elsewhere.

Individuals availing of the Scheme should not be charged any additional fee over and above the contribution which has been calculated by the HSE, except where he or she chooses to obtain additional services over and above long-term residential care services.

Under the Health Act 2007, (Care and Welfare of Residents in designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009, the Registered Provider must agree a contract with each resident within one month of their admission. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should not be charged fees which are not set out in the contract and agreed with the resident.