Apply For The Fair Deal Scheme (NHSS) To Fund Nursing Home Care For A Relative With Dementia

 

Is your spouse, or another family member inflicted with dementia? Well, caring for a loved one living with dementia is an extremely challenging job and it becomes more demanding as the symptoms get worse. Moving the dementia patient into a care facility can be a great alternative. 

But, are you confused about how to fund the long-term care of your loved person with dementia? Fret not! All you need to do is apply for the Fair Deal Scheme in Cork to receive financial support for long-term costs.

Dementia: An Overview

Dementia isn’t a disease in itself. Instead, it’s a word that describes various symptoms associated with difficulties in decision-making, thinking, mental sharpness, memory loss, problem-solving, understanding, and movement. Also, there may be changes in behaviour or mood. Although the changes might be quite small initially, the symptoms might become significant enough for having severe consequences in daily life.

Signs You Should Consider Nursing Home Care For A Relative With Dementia

Ø  You have been struggling and feeling exhausted – physically as well as emotionally – to offer the necessary care

Ø  Recently you have witnessed a huge decline in the physical or cognitive health of your loved one

Ø  Your role as a caregiver has advanced to the point where you feel that your own health is getting affected adversely.

Ø  Staying at home is deteriorating the health and well-being of the patient owing to challenging behaviours like sleep disturbance, aggression, and delusions. 

How Does Long-Term Care Home Benefit Patients With Dementia?

Nursing homes offer around-the-clock care as well as long-term medical treatment. Most of these facilities have staff to address issues like housekeeping, recreation, transportation, meals, frequent checks, and medication monitoring. Such a situation is perfect for families that work and are unable to leave their loved ones alone at home.

No matter how far gone the disease is, there are several benefits to moving into a nursing home. Some of the key benefits of nursing home care for patients with dementia are:

·       Unparalleled care and support from skilled care staff 24*7

·       Care homes can look after your dear one and make sure they stay completely safe

·       Staying with others allows your loved one to participate in social activity

·       Visiting a loved one in the nursing home instead of caring for them lets you spend quality time together without any added pressure

·       Being a family member, you can still provide support as well as influence their care

·       Fair deal nursing home scheme

Opt For The Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme To Make Long-Term Care Affordable

Nursing home care in Ireland is essential for people suffering from dementia as it improves their quality of life. But, if truth be told, the cost of long-term care for a dementia patient is often a concern for the family members. So, it’s no surprise that most people need financial assistance to afford nursing home care for their family members inflicted with dementia. It is here that Fair Deal Scheme in Cork comes as a blessing to anyone who is ordinarily a resident of Ireland.

Fair Deal or Nursing Home Support Scheme is an HSE-administered Irish government scheme that lets people with dementia avail of specialised care in a nursing home. The application procedure consists of three parts – care needs assessment, financial assessment, and nursing home loan.

Want to know more about Fair Deal funding? Check out the Nursing Home Support Scheme guide for detailed insight.

Wrapping Up!

Even though it can be hard to move your loved one suffering from dementia to a nursing home, it is very essential for their well-being and safety. Long-term care can be very beneficial for every individual suffering from dementia. Opting for specialized care is also an excellent way to show how much they mean to you.

If funding is a concern, applying for the Fair Deal Scheme in Cork can be the key to making nursing home care affordable. So what are you still pondering over? It’s time to get long-term care support for your dear one who’s coping with dementia!

Proceeds of the Sale of the House and the Nursing Home Support Scheme - A 2022 Update

 

From February 2022, changes have been made to the Nursing Home Support Scheme - Fair Deal, which has been publicised to extend the 3-year cap on the family farm, businesses and even proceeds of the sale of the house. This article explains the matter more closely, and how to qualify to get the exemption of house sale proceeds.

How The New Amendment Makes Things Easier for Families and Businesses

 

Suppose you or your loved one is living in a Nursing Home, under Fair Deal Scheme or the Fair Deal Loan scheme, and when the three years cap is applied, the homeowner may sell the house and keep the sale money in their bank account.

 

Now how to pay for care? Are you supposed to pay a percentage of the sale proceeds towards cash assets?

 

The new amendment to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was passed in February 2022, where a nursing home resident’s family home is sold, the proceeds are not included in the financial assessment for the Scheme once three years have passed.

 

The HSE will now permit a resident to sell their property once their application is approved and they are in care, according to the recently released rules. Until the client has resided in the nursing home for three years, the net proceeds will be charged as a monetary asset. After that time, the net proceeds will no longer be chargeable.

 

How You Pay For Care After 3years in Under Fair Deal Scheme

 

Previously, the applicant was required to contribute cash assets from the sale proceeds of a property owned by someone living under the Fair Deal Scheme.

 

This was a significant deterrent to residents selling their homes throughout their lifetime and has led to many vacant properties held by nursing home residents across the nation.

 

After three years in a nursing home, a property can now be sold, and no contribution from the revenues will be required going forward, according to the updated legislation that was initially passed into law.

 

 

After three years of receiving care, your residence will no longer be included in your financial evaluation. You don't need to take any action. The net revenues of a house sale that takes place while you are receiving care will also count toward the 3-year cap.

 

Qualification Criteria for 3-Year Cap on Proceeds of House Sale

 

People who sold their home while receiving nursing home care and are receiving care under Fair Deal before October 20, 2021, may apply for the three-year cap on the net proceeds of their home sale. Applicants need to contact any local fair deal scheme Ireland office and notify the officials about the specifics of the sale and request a review of the qualification. Some of the qualifications requirements are as follows:

 

●       The business or farm or house must be owned by the applicant

●       An immediate family member or proposed family successor must commit to running the farm or business or have been living in the house

●       A charge in favour of the HSE will be placed on the chargeable property

 

It is not as straightforward when it comes to managing family homes, assets and farms and businesses with the nursing home scheme. The best way to work it out is to consult a Fair Deal Scheme advisor, or even consult an attorney who specialises in handling Fair Deal cases in Ireland. Make a conscious decision and maximise the benefits.

How The Fair Deal Nursing Home Support Scheme Works For New Applicants in 2022-23

 

As we approach the fourth quarter of 2022, the effects of the COVID and the Ukraine War highlighted some of the most persistent problems with Ireland's standard residential care approach and how the Fair Deal Nursing Home Support Scheme Ireland meets them.

 

As new challenges arise with the rising cost of nursing home care, new reforms have made it easier for people with assets like homes, farms, or businesses to have a breather from the annual costs as a contribution. This article explores how the Fair Deal Scheme has changed over the last few years and how it works for new applicants.

Increased Nursing Home Costs

 

Ireland has experienced increases in daily living expenses since COVID and the Ukrainian War, which brought over 300,000 Ukrainian immigrants to Ireland. The cost of nursing home care has also increased.

 

For those living in nursing homes under the Fair Deal Scheme, the cost will increase in the form of service fees mainly, and for services that are not included under the scheme, such as recreational activities, private therapies, etc.

 

There is this principle of “money follows the patient” in regard to how private beds are funded under the scheme. Before the scheme was introduced in 2011, the majority of public nursing homes in Ireland received block funding regardless of activity levels.

 

The program first centralised the manner in which current patients pay for care, and it was efficiently handled on a named patient basis by the NHSS national office. The scheme's implementation of money following the patient in public facilities has been a great accomplishment.

 

If your care needs to change, your costs will change with it, and the plan sticks to the commitment that no one pays more than the cost of care.

 

The impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland

 

The living standards of certain nursing homes have been under scrutiny after the pandemic. The continuous use of multi-occupancy rooms and outdated facilities undoubtedly contributed to a scenario where it was challenging to control the spread of infection.

 

The Health and Services Executive (HSE) has developed a number of care facilities for the personnel who work in senior residential care homes. The facilities provide access to the most recent clinical advice, data, and linkages to enable care and assistance in various contexts.

Nursing home support scheme cost of care. The facilities include:

 

➔    COVID-19 Nutrition Support in Residential Care Facilities for Older People

➔    Enhanced Illness Benefit for COVID-19

➔    Health Services eLearning and Development

Paying for Nursing Home Support Cost of Care Under Fair Deal in 2022

 

The first thing is that we know how the 3-year cap is not available for families with a loved one living under care. The scheme has a fixed rate for the cost of care, which is based on a percentage of the applicant’s income and assets. The basic cost is

 

●       80% of monthly income (40% for couples) is paid weekly or monthly.

●       7.5% of assets, including homes, farms, businesses, savings, shares, and stocks (3.75% for couples) is paid annually.

 

In 2021, the two most important pieces of legislation were passed by the Irish Government to extend the effects of the 3-year cap on assets, homes, and property So you have to pay the 75% of the annual cost for only 3 years. So the sum total you have to pay is 22.5% of the value of the property, which is 11.25% for married applicants. But there is one condition that the house must be occupied by the family. The same is for the family farm, which must be taken over and run by family members. The cap does not apply to vacant homes or properties.

 

How the Nursing Home Loan Scheme Works in 2022

 

The three-year limit also applies to lending programmes for nursing homes. The proceeds of the house sale will also qualify for the cap, meaning if sell the house, you will still have to pay only 22.5% or 11.25% even if you avail of the loan.

Although you are not required to pay it while alive, it will be deducted from your inheritance after your death. You have the option to repay the loan at any moment.

After your passing, if your partner is still residing in the house, they may request a further delay. As a result, following their passing, the loan balance based on the residence may be recovered from their estate.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Guide For The 3-Year Cap

 

The Fair Deal Scheme, with a total budget of roughly €1.4 billion in 2021, is intended to provide long-term nursing home support for up to 22,500 people in Ireland. There is general agreement that the fair deal plan works effectively for a particular group of applicants with limited income and assets. The priority remains that no one will pay more than their cost of care.

However, since it has had a significant impact on families and succession, concerns have been expressed about the system regarding the consequences of the annual contribution of 7.5% on assets like homes, businesses, and farms.

The 3-year cap was introduced as a way to increase the viability of family-run farms and businesses. This Nursing Home Support Scheme Guide will explore all the aspects of the 3-year cap, including how it works for families, couples, succession, and general rules.

What is the 3-Year Cap in the Fair Deal: Nursing Home Support Scheme in Ireland? 

 

The 3-year cap, which was previously only available for principal residences with existing families, finally received the long-awaited update in 2021, with the amendment to the bill that extends the cap to family farms and businesses as well as contributions made by a principal residence to the proceeds of the sale of that residence.

Only the first three years of the applicant's care for themselves or a loved one would be covered by the annual payment of 7.5% against their home, farm, company, or sale of a house.

Treating the home and its proceeds equally furthers fairness and, in the context of the housing crisis, removes a barrier to selling a vacant property when a family member enters long-term care. And this cap would also apply to those who have opted for nursing home loan support.

 

How the 3-Year Cap Works for Home Owners

The Fair Deal Scheme entails applicants having to pay off homes and other assets that they own. It does not affect the assets of other family members. After the first three years, the financial assessment will automatically remove your home, farm, or business. There is nothing to do here; no further agreements or processes are involved. After years, you can stop paying against the property.

 

If you have opted for a nursing home loan. The HSE will draw the loan amount after only three years, either by the sale of the property or through a mortgage if any of the family members choose to pay off the instalments.

 

If you sell the property after three years, then the net proceeds of the sale would be counted. But you would have to pay 7.5% of the proceeds for only 3 years. And you must inform the local office of the Nursing Home Support Scheme if you are selling the property.

 

How The 3-year Cap Works For Farms and Businesses

 

After the 2021 amendment, farm owners or businesses will also get the 3-year cap on contributions for the cost of care. They need not apply or go through any process to get this. Eligible applicants automatically get the cap. The eligibility criteria go as follows:

 

➔    The business or farm must be managed by either the applicant himself/herself or an immediate family member for a minimum of 3 years to 5 years

➔    Appoint a successor, usually a family member, who will take care of the business or farm for at least five years after the transfer.

 

How The 3-year Cap Works for Couples Getting Fair Deal Scheme 

 

Couples will each contribute 3.75 percent of their home's value for a maximum of three years. The maximum amount you may contribute over three years is 11.25% of the property's value. The overall contribution is limited to 22.5% if both partners are receiving care. If you obtain a nursing home loan for your residence, your partner may also request to have the loan's lifetime payments postponed.

 

Payments Cannot be Applied Retroactively

 

No payments made earlier than the 3-year cap may be "backdated" or refunded. So, if you've been in care for five years, you might be eligible for the three-year cap. However, this only applies as of the day the HSE designates your family's successor. Any payments you've already made won't be reimbursed.

What Happens After 3 Years Under the Fair Deal Scheme?

 

Nursing Home Support Scheme, alternatively Fair Deal, the scheme that assures financial support to the aged section of the Irish population, has saved many applicants through subsidised long-term nursing home care. However, not everyone can make sense of the information and criteria associated with it. Some applicants feel they are too cumbersome and confusing, often causing stress to anyone who tries to decipher them. Too many questions pop up in their mind, and thankfully, advisory services such as Fair Deal Advice takes care of them. One such query you may come across is – what happens if a beneficiary successfully completes 3-years under the Scheme?

Do you continue to enjoy the scheme benefits after the period? Do you have to pay more towards the cost of contribution? These are some of the doubts you may have in mind. Find convincing answers to them in this post today.

The Scenario After Completing 3 Years Under Nursing Home Support Scheme

While conducting the financial assessment, the 7.5% contribution calculated over certain asset values such as farm, home, and proceeds from the sale of a home is locked in for up to 3 years. Post this, no further payment is expected of scheme beneficiaries. Long-term nursing home care also continues to flow in. This is primarily due to the recently introduced 3-year cap, whereby the worth of the stated assets is considered only for 3-years while calculating the 7.5% contribution based on these assets.

This contribution percentage drops to 3.75% per year in the case of couples, payable for a maximum of 3 years. Therefore, the aggregate figure stands at 11.25% of the property’s value. Once it is cleared, they are entitled to pay nothing but still enjoy appropriate care in their choice of the nursing home.

As for home, the financial assessment shall no longer consider this asset after completing 3-years. And the best part? You do not need to do anything from your end to achieve it. Finishing the tenure is enough to qualify for it. This 3-year cap also applies to net proceeds from the sale of the house while the beneficiary is under nursing home care.

Now, what if the beneficiary of the scheme is a family-owned farm or business owner? They too can enjoy the benefits rendered by a 3-year cap on meeting certain conditions:

• The beneficiary actively operates the farm for a minimum of 3 years of the past 5-years
• The beneficiary had applied to the HSE to appoint a family successor who has committed to run the farm or business for a minimum of 6-years

Postscript:

Do you still have doubts in mind? Do not hesitate to have a word with advisors who specially deal with Fair Deal and Nursing Home Loan Scheme cases. Fair Deal Advice in Ireland is one such organisation where the consultants answer the applicant queries and drive away their confusion. They will merrily do so in your case, leaving you encouraged and confident while applying for the scheme.

Fair Deal Funding: The Complete Nursing Homes Support Scheme Guide

 

Do you or an elderly member of your family need long-term care in a nursing home setting? But, are you perplexed about how to cover the most burdensome of medical costs? The NHSS, popularly known as Fair Deal, is a government financial support scheme for Irish residents who need long-term care. Under this scheme, the patient pays part of the nursing home fees and the HSE pays the balance.

Wondering what the Fair deal is all about? Check out the nursing homes support scheme guide below for a detailed insight.

What Does The Fair Deal Scheme Cover?

The government financial support scheme covers long-term nursing home care only. The Fair Deal covers a great level of care appropriate to the individual as well as a bed, laundry, and board service. Also, it covers certain therapeutic activities and some appliances and aids needed to assist with the activities of daily living. If an individual has a medical card, it should cover the cost of aids, appliances, and medical care like medication and GP charges.

The Fair Deal does not cover:

·       Short-term care like a convalescent, respite or day-care

·       Additional fees are charged by the nursing home for several services like activities, hairdressing, or therapies

Ensure you ask the nursing home what additional fees will have to be paid. These will have to be agreed upon and included in your contract.

What Is The ‘Three-Year Cap’?

Some assets are included in the financial assessment for only the first 3 years when you are in care. It is known as the ‘three-year cap’. This means that you have to pay a 7.5% contribution based on the value of certain assets for up to three years. These assets could include:

·       Your house

·       The proceeds of the sale of your house

·       Your business or farm

After the completion of three years, you will not give any more payment on these assets, even if you still get long-term care at a nursing home. Keep in mind that all other assets will be considered for as long as you are in nursing home care. In case you have already been in a nursing home for three years when applying for the Fair Deal Scheme, you do not have to pay the 7.5% payment on your home. 

How Long Does It Take To Receive The Fair Deal Funding?

When it comes to Fair Deal, the waiting period can vary depending on individual circumstances. If a person got admitted from the community to a nursing home before the Fair deal application was approved, the nursing home care expenses will be borne by the patient or their family. The HSE will not cover the cost.

If the person is admitted from a hospital, the hospital might have access to a transitional care bed in a nursing home to which the individual can be admitted while the application is being processed. If there is no availability of transitional care beds, the hospital might apply for temporary funding from the local Fair Deal office. Remember; this funding isn’t automatically given.

The elderly individual or their representative should always ask about this to ensure the hospital applies for the funding otherwise the nursing home will just bill the individual or their representatives. An individual can apply for the scheme before entering the nursing home and in several ways, this is preferable since it will give both the elderly and/or their carer time to select the nursing home that perfectly suits their needs.

Final Words:

Now that you are aware of everything with this nursing home support scheme guide, what are you still waiting for? It’s time to apply for the Fair Deal and get financial assistance! 

Nursing Home Support Scheme Guide for Farmers

Farmers have been fighting for fairness in Fair Deal Scheme implementation for years now. Before, there was no clarity on inclusions under sudden illness or disability. Most farm families avoided the Nursing Home Support Scheme fearing loss of business value. The farmers really hoped for the financial assessment to be reduced to 3 years. They were constantly living in anxiety over being disqualified from the 3-year cap had they cared more about their loved ones at home. So, you can imagine how “fundamentally unfair” it appeared back then.

Things have changed for the better now. If you belong to the farm family, operate its business and looking to update yourself on the changes brought forward by the HSE, go through this Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme guide. The upcoming sections have them highlighted for your convenience.

3-Year Cap on Family-Owned and Operated Farm Business Assets

A 3-year cap, in simple terms, implies the inclusion of assets in the financial assessment for the first three years that you are under nursing home care. So, if a beneficiary of the scheme from a farming background pays a 7.5% contribution of their aggregate asset value, it shall be limited to 3 years. A farmer is not entitled to further payments after 3-years despite the person receiving long-term nursing home care.

How to Make Your Family-Owned Farm Business Eligible for the 3-Year Cap?

Enlisted are the conditions to satisfy to qualify for the 3-year cap:

·        The owner and operator of the farm business must apply to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to appoint a family successor who commits to run the trade for a minimum of 6 years.

·        The applicant must actively run the farm business from on day-to-day basis. In the absence of the person, his partner or a proposed family successor is allowed to look after it. This should be a practice for the past 3-years, if not 5-years.

·        The successor must be at least 18 years of age and either your partner, that of your relatives or a relative himself/ herself.

·        The farm property must have a charge in favour of the HSE.

If you have ticked off all the qualifying criteria, you have safely made your way into the 3-year cap. However, please take note of the fact that you have the option of taking up the Nursing Home Loan Scheme only if you have a land-based asset in Ireland. The rest of the rules are more or less the same for all applicants, irrespective of background.

Closing Thoughts:

If you have drawn significant insights from this post and these have been helpful, come back more often for Nursing Home Support Scheme advice. You may even seek the advisory services from Fair Deal Advice, a treasure trove of information on the Fair Deal Scheme in Ireland. You can greatly benefit from their consultations in exchange for a nominal fee.