Written answers

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

Department of Health

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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120. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the operation of the fair deal scheme and if improvements could be made by linking in all additional costs to the original agreed settlement, as at present many persons are subject to additional costs for nursing home care after agreeing to the original arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2391/16]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) or Fair Deal as it is commonly referred to, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. Once an individual has been assessed as needing long-term residential care i.e residential care which requires a 24 hour nursing presence, a financial assessment is carried out to determine the financial contribution that the individual should make towards the cost of their care. An individual’s contribution is based on their means, and the State, through the Health Service Executive (HSE), pays the balance of the costs in public, private and voluntary nursing homes approved under the Scheme.

The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which 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.

Charges may only be levied in respect of services which are additional to the above, and which are clearly specified in a contract to be concluded within one month of admission between the relevant residential facility and the resident.

A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home.

Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, e.g. social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). This currently amounts to about €44 per week.

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