Frequently Asked Questions about Home Care

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Fund Home Care?

There are 3 ways to fund the cost of home care:

Can I download forms for Carer Tax Relief

Yes you can download the Respite Care Grant Form by clicking the highlighted link.

RCG1 Form

RCG1a Form

You can also download the Employed Person Taking Care of an Incapacitated Individual by clicking the highlighted link.

IT47 Form

What is the Home Care Grant for?

The Home Care Grant is intended to assist you if:

  •  you are 65 years of age or over, and
  •  are currently in receipt of HSE Community Support Services and
  •  wish to remain living at home but cannot do so without financial assistance to pay for additional community supports and/or services.

Your home care grant can be used to fund Myhomecare services and we can assist you on how best to apply for one.

Does the HSE fund Home Care Packages

Home Care Packages are services of nurses, home care attendants, home helps and the various therapists including physiotherapists and occupational therapists funded by the HSE that enable an older person to remain at home. Myhomecare can assist you on how best to apply for one.

The Health Services Executive (HSE) has full responsibility for home care packages in Ireland. The HSE recognises this need for older people to stay at home as an alternative to a residential setting, and has implemented a home support scheme.

This scheme was set up in order to increase home care support and home help and is known as the home care support package. It is aimed at older people living alone or in-patients in acute hospitals that are at risk of admission to long term residential care. This scheme has been a pilot scheme for the last 5 years but is not on a statutory footing and there are also no national guidelines on this scheme.

The Home Care Packages mainly focus on individuals requiring medium to high support at home. To avail of the scheme, a means or income test will need to be carried out. Some HSE areas assess on the same basis as with applying for a medical card but the criteria are not universal.

Each HSE area has ownership of how the home care support package is delivered. The scheme differs around Ireland depending on area catchment population, individual requirements and personnel available to deliver the services available.

Cash payments may also be given so that home support is sourced directly by the Client. You may also qualify for Carers benefit or Carers Allowance and/or a Respite Care Grant. If you pay privately tax relief claims can be made at the lower and higher tax brackets.

You maybe able to get extra support from services provided a local day centre. These may include medical, social care and recreational facilities.

A health assessment will normally be carried out by your local Public Health Nurse (PHN). There is no standard assessment of need or no national guidelines on a needs assessment. Once care has been assessed an application will be sent to the HSE for approval.