It’s hoped the new Nursing Homes Support Scheme will help make long-term nursing home care more accessible and equitable.
Clare Fianna Fail TD and Junior Minister Tony Killeen has confirmed that applications are now being accepted for the new "Fair Deal" scheme which came into operation this week.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 is a new system of nursing home support which provides financial assistance to people in need of long-term residential care based on equitable cost-sharing between the person receiving care and the State.
The State will pay the shortfall between what someone can afford to pay and the actual cost of the nursing home care taking their pension and assets into account.
Staff in the HSE’s Nursing Homes Support Office in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Limerick, are available to provide information and process applications under the new Scheme.
