Fair Deal Scheme: The Ideal Support For Growing Old In Ireland

 

With the outbreak of a Novel Coronavirus taking the world by storm, caring for senior citizens is becoming a more serious task for both the elderly and their families. In the midst of this crisis, working from home has become the new normal and thousands of Irish people are juggling work and elder care with a sick parent who needs attention. At the top of the caring list is the finance to address the inevitable cost of caregiving.

Rising costs coupled with reductions in secondary income supports like fuel allowances, telephone and the introduction of numerous ‘stealth’ charges for tax, property, and water have hit the older people very hard. Aging citizens need nursing home care for numerous reasons since not everyone can afford the live-in expensive home help. And, applying for the HSE’s Fair Deal Scheme can be a great way to seek financial support for long-term care.

Here’s an overview of the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme.

The Fair Deal Act: Explained

The Fair Deal or the Nursing Home Scheme was brought into Irish law on 1^st July 2009 and later introduced on 27^th October in the same year under the Nursing Home Support Act or the Fair Deal Act. It provides financial support to Irish citizens who require long-term nursing home care. Individuals can choose care in any of the nursing homes included in the scheme, provided the nursing home can cater to the person’s specific needs and has a place available for him/her.

What Does The NHSS Mean For You & Your Property?

People applying for the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) will be assessed by the HSE to establish their financial standing including assets like any property owned as well as cash assets. Once it is approved, you will have to contribute towards the cost of care and the State will pay the remainder.

The Fair Deal Application Process

There are two stages to the Fair Deal application process. The first and foremost step is the Care Needs Assessment that is carried out by the healthcare staff. By looking at the healthcare needs of you and your family, and the social supports, it will be determined whether you need long-term care in a nursing home or you can be supported to continue living at home.

If the Care Needs assessment shows that you require long-term nursing home care, the Financial Assessment will work out the amount you will be paying for the cost of your care and the amount the HSE will be paying. The amount you pay for your care depends on your income and the value of your assets.

The part concerning non-cash assets like property is Page 6 or Part 4B of the application. Some information required here is, of course, the property address along with the property’s current value. It clearly states that the “Certificate of Market Value” is required for accompanying the form. Also, you need to include details regarding loans on property like credit union loans or mortgage payments.

What Is Considered In An Official Property Evaluation?

1.      Property Type

When evaluating a property’s value, location is everything and thus forms to be a major aspect when making an accurate appraisal. Homes close to modern amenities like hospitals, schools, banks, recreational facilities, are the most desirable locations. So, these properties enjoy a higher price tag.

2.      Location

The kind of property you own will be a key factor when the evaluation is carried out. Houses and apartments offer different features including the accessibility to a balcony and garden.

3.      Aspect

The direction your property faces can make or break for a house. Among all the directions, the South-west is the most desired aspect for any residential property since it offers maximum light.

4.      Number of Rooms

Another crucial factor that can affect your contribution to the Fair Deal Scheme is the number of rooms in your property. The number of bathrooms, bedrooms, balconies and living rooms will significantly affect your property’s price.

5.      BER

Energy ratings provide a score that represents the energy your property is consuming. It reflects how energy-efficient your house is.

6.      Parking

Access to underground, on-street or surface-level parking is another vital factor that several property buyers have at the top of their list. It has a great impact on the overall value of a house and is taken into consideration when making the appraisal.

Bottom-line:

Whether you or your loved one suffers from an illness, opting for the NHSS scheme can be an informed decision for all. Need assistance or expert advice on the Fair Deal application process? Approach the renowned financial advisors and be assured of a hassle-free and timely application process.

The Procedure And System For Nursing Home Support Scheme Ireland

 

In Ireland Nursing Home Care is very expensive, and the growing senior population demands a more affordable, fair system that could make things easier for people who don’t have adequete financial strength.

The Fair Deal Scheme was first introduced in 2007 by the Irish Government through Health and Security Executive (HSE) organisation, in a bid to aid senior citizens in need of Nursing Home Care through a systematic financing policy.

This is not free funding, but a scheme wherein cadidates would have to pay a portion of their care costs based on their affordability, while the state will pay the balance. But this doesn’t have much scope for the candidate to decide what is their affordability, the state decidedes it.

There are many things that are vague and unsaid about this scheme, and as of now, after the COVID pandemic, the applications have increased manifolds, creating quite a buzz about the exact fairness of the idea. Here’s all you need to know about it.

Nursing Home Support Scheme Ireland - Who Are The Ones At Best Benefit

 

The fundamental scheme entails that one who needs Nursing Home Care, can go through the

Fair Deal support to make it affordable for them.

However, the contribution is 80% of your income 22.5% of the value of assets (broken down to 7.5% of the total amount per annum for 3years).

HSE runs two assessments to determine the candidacy of individuals and to ascertain a contribution that is “Fair”.

The first is a care assessment which is conducted in collaboration with medical proffesionals either appointed by the HSE, or by coordinating with the doctor of the candidate. The care assessment determines the care needs of the candidate and how much would it cost.

After that, comes the Financial Assessment which is done in collaboration with a financial proffessional who audits the income, savings, assets of the candidate and determines their affordability of the scheme.

In the financial assessment an amount of €36,000 is exempted from the count of cash assets, whatever is remaining, candidates would have to pay 80% of it per year. As for non-cash assets, like a house, farmland, non-farm land, company stocks, or small business, the cash flow has to be 22.5% which is distributed to 3years of 7.5% payment.

The whole thing can reduce to half, if the candidate has a spouse or family member back home, who has equal share at the estate. In that case the contribution would be 40% of total income and 11.5% of non cash asset, distributed to 3.75% per annum. And €72,000 will be exempted from the total savings.

Now the problem is that not all people have €36,000 in savings or that they have a home that is probable to sell, or a farmland that is up and run by the family members. In such situations the candidacy can be really cumbersome.

Would You Go For It?

The scheme is designed for retired people that don’t have to bear the responsibility of family anymore, and lives off their pension and savings, at their own house - that does not have a successor as such. Or have a farm that has no people to look after for after their demise.

If you have a family and you wish to pass on the estate to them then you better do this at an early age, and at least 5years before you think of going for the Fair Deal Scheme. Succession Planning is the best way to have your house, and have a good settlement plan with the Irish Nursing Home Care system, one that you can fairly afford. 

Nursing Home Support Scheme Dublin - How It Is Going To Be With New COVID Rules

 

Even though the Irish Government has lifted most of the lockdowns, the Coronavirus Pandemic is still out on the loose, and it has directly impacted many processes of official matters, with the introduction of new COVID-related measures - which is the new normal.

At this crucial moment of the Global Pandemic, there is a raised concern of uncertainty, especially regargding future security and retirement plans. Now, whenever there are talks of retirement plans in Ireland, the Fair Deal Scheme is always relevant, if not inevitable. A lot of people are aware that the scheme may not be the right option for them, for it is radically not the best choice for people who have a lot of assets and savings. But for them who already are living on Nursisng Home Care, or live on rent, this might be a good settlement plan.

So if you are looking to go for a Fair Deal Scheme Dublin application at this time, here is all you need to know about the COVID related changes in the application process.

How Are Nursing Homes Operating The Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme Dublin with New COVID Norms

Nursing Homes in Dublin that accepted residents under Fair Deal Scheme, before COVID-19, are still accepting new residents and working to get though with ongoing applications. The regular process has not changed much. There are some new guideliens been introduced lately, that apply for different phases of the application process, which is to ensure that the residents are not infected and to maintain a safe environment overall. 

Application, and Before Admission - After fulfilling the Care Needs and Financial Assessments, and getting a getting the funding, you need to go undergo a free COVID test.

Some residents may have to undergo 14-days quarantine at a hospital or nursing home based on their physical condition. And if they are COVID positive, they can only get admitted to the nursing home after they have recovered.

New guidelines for visitors are also being changed, and the Irish Government has imposed new visitor restrictions to Nursing Homes, wherein only 1 visitor is allowed per resident, which was earlier 4 visitors.

 Contact A Solicitor or Fair Deal Advisory

The Fair Deal Scheme is not a complex one, but for certain cases, the wheraouts get complicated. While you don’t really have any legal obligations or liabilities to appoint a solicitor or legal advisor as such, it is always helpful to consult with a solicitor beforehand who is proficient in handling different Fair Deal cases and can help families and individuals get through the process more easily and beneficially. One Fair Deal Advice in Dublin is one such establishment that dedicatedly works with Fair Deal applicants and is an independent firm, that will give you unbiased advisory that is only good for you and your loved one.

Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme: The Financial Support For Needy

 

Do you or someone close to you need to go into a nursing home? Dealing with financial issues in such a time can be very stressful, especially if you are a senior citizen, a pensioner, or a farmer. Perplexed about how to afford long-term care in the nursing home? Well, applying for the Fair Deal NursingHome Scheme can be the ideal way to manage your care.

The Fair Deal or the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) is a financial grant for Irish citizens who need long-term care. Administered by the HSE, it is an Irish government scheme where the resident needs to make a contribution towards the cost of care, and the State then pays the remaining amount. Under this scheme, the kind of care appropriate to the individual along with the bed & board, laundry service, and certain therapeutic activities, is covered.

The article below breaks down everything you need to know about this scheme.

Is It Compulsory To Apply For Fair Deal Funding?

No. There is undeniably no obligation for individuals to apply for the Nursing home support scheme. Every individual and his/her family can choose to pay for the care on their own. The NHSS provides an option for Irish families to seek residential care by applying for Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme and share the cost of it with the State.

How Is A Resident’s Co-Payment Calculated?

The HSE calculates the individual’s co-payment from- 

·         7.5% of the total value of assets per annum (assets that were transferred for less than 5 years before applying for the scheme are included), and

·         80% of annual income (rental income, pension, SFP, etc.)

When Does The ‘3 Year Limit’ Apply?

In some circumstances, the 3 Year limit or the cap of 22.5% of chargeable asset value is applied to small business assets or farm. This applies in circumstances like-

·         Where the individual has suffered an unexpected disability or illness, that causes them the need to avail long-term care;

·         Where a successor in family certifies that he or she will continue the management of relevant business and the farm; and

·         Where the resident or their partner was actively engaged in the daily management of the farm until the time of the sudden disability or illness.

Will You End Up Paying More Than The Cost Of Your Care Due To Assets?

No, having assets doesn’t mean that you have to pay more for the cost of your care. The nursing home support scheme cost of care you contribute depends on the length of the time you are availing nursing home care and the total cost of your evaluated contribution. Individuals in receipt of the financial support under the Irish government scheme do not have to pay more than the cost of care in respect of their long-term residential care services.

How Can Skilled Financial Advisors Help?

Applicants cannot apply for the fair deal funding for their nursing home care before receiving approval of their application. But, making the fair deal application can be a daunting process and it is here that professional financial advisors can come to your rescue. From guiding you step by step while applying for the scheme to assisting you in completing the application, experts can help you throughout the process.  Experienced specialists can even help you with one to one consultations.

Postscript:

The fair deal application is made to the local nursing home support scheme office on the standard application form. Seek the advice of qualified financial advisors for a hassle-free application and get approved for the financial support quickly!

Top 10 Questions on Fair Deal Scheme Answered

 

A financial decision often sparks up numerous queries and concerns and the Nursing Home Support Scheme is no exception. Though there are many advisors to approach and seek support from, it’s always wise to research yourself at first, grab an overall idea about the concepts and then hire a specialist like Fair Deal Advice to guide you through the application process and clarify doubts that may arise, since you are entirely new to it. Keeping in mind all that and much more, we have jotted down ten of the most frequently asked questions about the Nursing Home Support Scheme. Go through them if you are interested in applying for financial assistance for yourself or your loved ones.

1. What exactly is the Fair Deal Scheme?

The Nursing Home Support Scheme, abbreviated as NHSS, is staunch financial assistance extended to mostly the aged section of the population, who need long-term nursing home care. To achieve this financial independence, they have to make a contribution based on their means and State bears the rest through HSE (Health Service Executive).

2. Who can be the Applicant?

It can be anyone, who is in dire need of long-term nursing home care.

3. What’s the Application Process?

It’s quite simple, where an applicant has to go through two basic steps, namely Care Needs Assessment and State Support. There’s also a third step in the name of Nursing Home Loan Scheme, which is entirely optional.

4. Where to Seek an Application of Fair Deal Scheme from?

It’s available at the Local Health Office or in any hospital.

5. What is meant by Care Needs Assessment?

It’s a responsibility, the onus of which is usually taken up by healthcare professionals, to check the ability of the applicant to carry out activities. Also, it reviews the health, social, personal and medical services being used up by the individual as well as the support received by the person from community and family members.

6. What’s an Applicant’s Contribution?

It’s 80% of one’s accessible income if the person lacks assets. But those who own them shall have to pay 7.5% of their asset’s value per annum for the first three years. However, the financial assessment shall not count the first €72,000 for a couple and half of the amount for an individual applicant.

7. Is the Scheme Considerate towards Partners Living at Home?

Surprisingly, yes. It leaves behind 50% of a couple’s income and the State Pension received by them for the partner to support his lifestyle. Here, the greater amount is usually non-contributory.

8. Does Paying for Long-Term Care Cost One’s Family Home?

The scheme is considerate enough to not to compel you to sell off your property to pay for the care expenses. To support people, who find it difficult to part with the 7.5% contribution, it offers a Nursing Home Loan, by deferring the payment at a later date.

9. What’s included under Fair Deal?

From bed and board to personal care, nursing and laundry, the scheme covers it all.

10. How long should an Applicant Wait for an Approval?

The waiting time is usually 4-6 weeks for applicants eagerly awaiting approval.

Postscript:

For further queries, reach out to Fair Deal Advice in Ireland. The specialists can help you in clearing out your doubts through insightful advice and guidance.

Fair Deal Scheme Application For Disabled Or Incapacitated Individuals

Nursing Home and Residential care is highly expensive in Ireland, costing a standard €1,615 – to €1,592 per week. So affordability is a big concern among the masses. The Irish Government came up with a solution, by creating a scheme that will enable individuals with limited financial backup to be finally able to afford nursing home care based on their financial capacity.

This is the Fair Deal Scheme.

It is not free Government service. In turn, applicants need to contribute a portion of their total nursing home care cost, while the balance will be paid by the Government. To ascertain the amount of the contribution, the applicants need to adhere to a couple of assessment procedures that will look into the applicant’s care needs as well as assets that would include both liquid cash assets and land and property so as to judge what should be a ‘fair deal’. 

In case the applicant is physically or mentally incapable to conduct the entire application process on their own, which is common for senior citizens affected by Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia, yet they are very much an ideal candidate of the scheme, a Care Representative or Next Friend is accredited, lest the candidate misses the opportunity of getting the grant. Here’s how it all works.

The Role Of A Care Representative In Nursing Home Support Scheme

In case a person needing nursing home care is not capable of going through the requisite formalities, or to sign the Charging Order and agreements, a Care Representative can act on the behalf of the applicant. The Care Representative would need permission from the Circuit Court to represent the Fair Deal applicant in front of the HSE - the authority that conducts the grant.

The care representative may be a legal organisation, a secretariat committee or a family member of the applicant, such as spouse, children above the age of 18, or any other close relative, a doctor, nurse or  or a registered medical professional. It is unusual for a neighbour or friend to get permission to represent the applicant, but is not likely to be a hurdle for a non-biological friend or well-wisher to act as a Next Friend if he/she appears in court as a person with adequate and exclusive concern for the wellbeing of the person for whom they are seeking the care.

However, if the person already has an Attorney who is appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney, or has a Ward of Court / Officer appointed by the Ward of Court office, may step in lieu of any other care representative.

The Process of Application

The Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009, under Section 21, entitles the appointing of a care representative for a person who is ideally incapable of conducting the entire procedure of grant application on their own. Submitting a notice of motion along with a grounding affidavit to the Circuit Court is the first move to initiate the process. This application requires a fee, and may be made by a spouse, a legal advisory officer, the child or grandchild of the candidate etc.

The applying Care Representative has to appear before the Registrar for a hearing, so as to ascertain the permission of the application.

You will have to pay a court fee for the application.

Next up, as an applying care representative, you would need to submit two medical reports to prove that the person you are trying to represent is indeed naturally disabled. The Circuit Court magistrate will prescribe in what form the reports need to be submitted and the deadline of it. Basically, you would need a medical opinions from two registered Doctors, who will examine the person who needs nursing home care, and also acknowledge whether he/she really needs a care representative. The entire investigation is warped under the Form 4.

The role of a care representative is pivotal. If the person whom you are trying to represent has a family member or anyone who might have greater or equal rights over him/her, then to be their care representative, you’d have to first seek their written consent to the matter.

While it is not necessary to get a solicitor or legal advisor to conduct all the legal proceedings, it is often more helpful to get professional help, to have a successful and speedy conclusion to the venture.

How Fair Deal Scheme Ireland Works For Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease

While Nursing Home Care is quintessential for individuals afflicted with Dementia, to get a grant under the Fair Deal Scheme can get complicated without proper guidance. What is more important to know that there is special aid available in Ireland, for people with dementia to get quality nursing home care or residential care. Here are some guidelines. 

Dementia is not a disease, it is a group of symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s, and categorically signifies the conditions in which a person has at least 2 impairments of the brain, causing functional disorders. Forgetfulness or short term memory loss are mostly known by general people but are other symptoms that fall under Dementia, including cognitive, behavioural as well as psychological problems such as hallucinating, heightened confusion in recognising common things or family members, and even have muscular instability causing involuntary or aimless movements, or losing directions while walking.

The progression of such symptoms makes long-term nursing home care more practical over home care. It is indeed a hard decision to make for a loved one, either children or a spouse. But sometimes it is for the better for the person with dementia.

But should the process work, if a person is not capable to make a decision? Is it legally permissible to make a decision on behalf of a family member, distant relative or friend?

Fair Deal Scheme Ireland For Dementia

The Fair Deal Scheme allows family members, relatives and close friends to place a person with Dementia to Nursing Home Care. However, in order to get through this, they need to undergo a Health Assessment under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE is the Government organisation that is responsible for giving away the Fair Deal grants.

Dementia appears differently in different people, and it is also can be associated with different diseases. Sometimes, individuals with early signs of Dementia are reluctant to have it in their medical history, but when these symptoms progress with the onset of diseases, it is better to make a decision soon.

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 gives people with dementia to express their wishes regarding whether they want to be placed in care or not. But otherwise, under the scheme, it is possible to have someone placed into nursing home care without their consent, only when they don’t have the capacity to do so.

Why The Fair Deal Scheme?

Nursing Home Support is highly expensive in Ireland, and loved ones are often in turmoil to make a decision. The feelings of loss, or anxiety that a beloved relative will forget about the other after they going away, all these things point out that the placement of a person to nursing home care comes with a lot of backstories, and emotional consequences.

First of all, the Fair Deal grant makes it more affordable for individuals with limited financial or personal assets to get long-term nursing home support. And secondly, it is probable and easier to review nursing homes and make a decision that suits all your needs.

The scheme is not free of cost, instead the individuals need to pay to contribute for the cost of care, which is 80% of cash assets, including savings, or pension, plus, 22.5% of non-assets, such as a house, farm, stocks, shares or a shop.

But the scheme is designed in a way that it should not take everything that you have and that individuals do not need to pay more than they get. Under the scheme, the first €36,000 is exempted from assets. And in case the individual applying for the scheme is a member of a couple, they can get an exemption of up to €72,000.

Moreover, with the implementation of the Nursing Home LoanScheme, families can even delay the payment of the cost of care, until after the lifetime of the individual, by mortgaging their asset, like the house, farm, etc.

Ideally, such a scheme is not meant for everyone at ease, it may be the most significant for someone who has a pension and no house, and needs quality nursing home care within a budget.

The Role Of A Next Friend

A ‘next friend’ is someone identified by the legal system of the Irish Government who can execute the nursing home placement formalities on behalf of a person who is incapable of doing so on their own, notable people with Dementia. While this position is best fulfilled by immediate family members or even distant relatives, if there is a lack of both, there are legal bodies who extend the help.

Getting Through The Financial Assessment For Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme

When you are applying for the Fair Deal Scheme, the care needs assessment is the first step that makes sure and certain of the care needs or requirements you have and how much it is going to cost. The Financial Assessment stage ascertains how much you need to pay. Fundamentally the Financial Assessment guidelines are largely designed to evaluate the applicant’s income and assets, which might turn up disregarding the individual’s capacity or willingness to give away the same. So the golden question remains- is the scheme right for you? Here’s all you need to know about the financial aspect of the grant.

Even though the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme is open to all, and people of all ages, the scheme is ideally designed for a specific category of people. Let’s answer the bottom line first, that this scheme is the most beneficial for pensioners, single or widowed individuals, and someone not only have limited assets and low income but also doesn’t have to worry about the succession of their estate, farm or land if anything is there. But if you are someone with more assets and huge savings, then this scheme can drain you 80% of your property and savings.

So what matters is, what you have and what you are willing to give, as an investment for long term nursing home care.

What You Have To Pay

On a general scale, the applicant has to pay 80% of their income, which will include personal savings, earnings through renting out of a property, any Government allowances, earnings from a shop, personal shares and stocks. Next up, is the evaluation of your non-cash assets, such as private home, farm, business, and land, against which you’d have to contribute 7.5% annually. In some cases, the 7.5% contribution can be capped after 3years. So you have to pay a total of 22.5% the value of your home or property.

The first €36,000 of your income is exempted from the count. Moreover, the payment structure is halved in case you have a husband or a wife still living in your house, and who might also have a fair share of the savings. So for couples, the contribution becomes a split of the primary cost - so they have to pay 40% for income and 3.5% for non-cash assets.

Note, that valuables such as antique pieces, furniture, jewelry, and cars are not radically counted as assets, until and unless you use such things for financial gains, such as pawning or leasing out your car. In such cases, the money you received in the process will be counted as a cash asset and is most likely to affect your cost of care contribution amount to increase.  

How The Financial Assessment Works

The financial assessment is run by the HSE, wherein the designated person will contact you, and ask for the following documents:

●     Pension Statements (If Any)

●     Up-to-the-date bank details and statements, as well as details of any savings, account in any bank or private financial institutions that you deal with. It is good to know that you may be asked to provide bank statements for several years up to 5years, most significantly when any situation of asset transfers are involved.

●     If the applicant is associated with a social welfare or Government allowance programs, then they have to mention it and must present any evidential document to verify the same.

Basically, the financial assessment is the review of all your data that can direct a detour of your ‘financial condition’. The financial condition can be often contradictory to the actual financial capacity. But for that, you will have time to decide that this thing is ideal for you or not.

Early Plans

It always makes up for a good decision to plan ahead, especially if you want to transfer your property to your children or grandchildren. You may appoint a special Nursing Home Support Scheme Guide to help you throughout the process. Having a Power of Attorney in place can also be helpful for later when you can find it easy to appoint someone else, such as a Fair Deal Attorney to handle the grant application on your behalf, later in life.

The Ancillary State Support - Nursing Home Loan Scheme

The Fair Deal Loan scheme is created for those families that need to defer the sale of the land, farm or home. Under this scheme, families can defer the payment of the Asset-based contribution until after the lifetime of the applicant. It is an unnecessary rule that one has to, after all, mortgage or sell the house that is in the name of the applicant. With the provision of the Loan, it is possible to delay the inevitable.

Exemptions and Relief

There can be tons of exemptions and relief from the cost of care, which includes the payment of income tax, medical and therapeutic expenses, caring for a child, and a host of other obligations.

So it is possible to have a holistic settlement with the Fair Deal Scheme if you know how to work things out in the right way and the right time.

Nursing Home Support Scheme is Available to All Elderly People, Irrespective of Physical or Mental Incapacity

Only a few schemes in Ireland have reached out to the masses and proved its worth. Fair Deal Scheme is one of them. Administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, it has been truly exceptional in its mission of providing financial support to the elderly, undergoing long term nursing home care in public, private and voluntary nursing homes. As a matter of fact, it states that almost every resident of the State can apply for it if the individual is in dire need of long-term nursing home care. But the question, which pops up in mind is - how much of it is true? After all, by ‘ordinarily resident’, it should count even those who are suffering from a mental condition. The blog here discloses the inclusivity of the scheme.

Understanding the Nursing Home Support Scheme and applying for it isn’t easy. One has to have a grip over it and minutely go through the NHSS Information Booklet to comprehend the terms and conditions accompanying the benefits. Applying for it is equally confusing and stressful. An applicant has to go through three stages, namely, the Care Needs Assessment, Financial Assessment and Ancillary State Support to finally reap the benefits in the form of long-term nursing home care. Such a lengthy procedure often causes stress in applicants, leave alone those suffering from serious physical and mental illness.

In response to it, NHSS allows the applicant to take the aid of a ‘specified person’ and act on his behalf. Wondering who can be that person? Let’s look at it.

The person acting on the applicant’s behalf can be any of the following:

• A Committee if the applicant is a ward of court.
  
  
• Someone, whom the power of attorney appoints.
  
  
• A person entitled ‘Care Representative’, who has been appointed by the court under the NHSS Act 2009.
  
  
• The applicant’s better half.
  
  
• Any of the applicant’s relatives on condition that the person is at least 18 years and over.
  
  
• Any of your friend on the condition that the person has been appointed by the court.
  
• A representative legally appointed for the purpose.
  
  
• Any of those social workers, medical practitioners or nurses.

Of them all, HSE prioritises the first three as the ‘Specified Person’ acting on a disabled applicant’s behalf. However, if any of them among ward of Court, Care Representative or a specially appointed person recommend someone in writing from the rest of the list for an elderly, then HSE shall deem it fit.

Final Thoughts:

Such is the flexibility practised at HSE in Fair Deal Scheme! Also, the inclusivity of people suffering from mental incapacity into the beneficiary list makes it an all-encompassing one. And with advisory bodies like Fair Deal Advice, helping out people planning to avail the Nursing Home Support Scheme for someone elderly in their family, long term nursing home care is neither stressful nor a financial burden today.