Steps to Organising Homecare

Home Care or Nursing Home Care is generally the dilemma faced by children of older parents whose existing homes have become unsuitable for them. These elderly people are either living in precarious conditions in the community or could be in-patients awaiting discharge in one of our acute hospitals.
The advantage of Homecare is it allows elderly people to retain their independence while still being professionally supported. For the relatives, homecare offers peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones are being cared for in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home.
Today we’re going to look at homecare and how you can go about availing of it in five simple steps.
1. Am I eligible?
There are two types of Homecare packages available to people – public or private. Public Homecare packages are offered by the HSE and are needs assessed. In most cases, your public health nurse will do a Care Needs Assessment and work out with you and your family how your needs will be best met. In general, the HSE have a rule that if you need more than 5 hours of home help per week you are eligible to be considered. The number of hours and types of support you get will depend on the HSE’s assessment of your individual needs.
Private Homecare packages are available from numerous providers and it is up to you to shop around and find the package and the provider that suits you best. Castle Homecare’s team of 70 people is providing home care services to over 150 elderly people in Ireland today. We pride ourselves in our personalised one-to-one caring service. To find out more visit our Services Page Once you have contacted Castle Homecare, one of our team will visit you to carry out an assessment and determine the level of homecare you require based on your care needs.
2. Who Pays for Homecare?
Public Homecare is paid for by the HSE to the value of approximately €300 – €500 per week. If you arrange services or supports above the levels provided by the HSE or if you do not qualify for a Home Care Package you will have to pay for the cost of homecare services yourself. It is worth noting that if you employ a carer yourself directly and fund this person from your own resources, you become their employer and will have various associated duties and obligations. If you engage a homecare company, the homecare company is the carer’s employer.
3. Is there any Tax Relief associated with Home Care?
Either way, whether you employ the home carer yourself or through an agency, you can claim tax relief on home care for yourself or your family member. To apply for tax relief the IT47 leaflet form can be downloaded from the Revenue’s website.
4. Who monitors Home Care professionals?
Home care providers at Castle Homecare undergo a rigorous interview and recruitment process. We ensure each carer undergoes Garda Vetting and they are required to supply referees. Only when we have verified these referees and they complete their training, will we send a carer into your home. Castle homecare is a HSE approved provider of homecare to the elderly and has been for the past seven years. We adhere to all standards set out by the HSE and continue to reach our quality goals year after year. As part of our recruitment process we ensure all carers have completed two FETAC Healthcare modules and be working towards the remaining five along with a patient moving and handling certificate. All carers attend our induction sessions with our Registered Nurse and Care Managers.
5. How can I apply
To apply for a Public Homecare Assessment, contact your local HSE office. To apply for an assessment from Castle Homecare, complete our online form  or contact us on 01 296 5304