New nursing Home Fair Deal booklet launched by Dragon
A new Louth-produced guide has been launched aimed at simplifying the Fair Deal programme and allaying any fears older people in the county might have about the national nursing homes support scheme.
Age-friendly advocate Gavin Duffy launched ‘An Easy Guide to Applying for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme’ which was compiled by the County Louth Citizens and Information Services (CIS), as part of the Louth Age Friendly County Programme.
The guide, which was launched at the County Library, was devised to address many fears and misconceptions that older people were reporting to the CIS, Louth Older People’s Forum and various other groups throughout the county.
The Nursing Home Support Scheme, better known as Fair Deal, is a scheme of financial support for people who need long-term nursing home care.
The book details simply what the scheme is about, how to apply for it and the subsequent assessments needed to be a successful applicant.
It explains: “Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, you will make a contribution towards the cost of your care and the state will pay the balance.
Applicants are assessed as to whether they can be supported to continue living at home or whether long-term nursing care is more appropriate.
‘‘ The booklet will enable people to make choices now and not when decisions are borne out of panic.
‘It’s crucially important that these decisions are made as early as possible,’ said Louth Age Friendly County Co-coordinator Mary Deery.
The longer and happier we are in control of our own destiny at home the better, but unfortunately this sometimes does not happen and some people are faced with needing long-term care.
‘Obviously people want to make decisions themselves and these should be made as early as possible, before any critical incident like a stroke takes the decision away from them. In these times, the family is thrown into turmoil and can’t think straight.’
‘ This is where this booklet comes in – to make everyone aware of Fair Deal as early as possible.’
Be prepared now – but you may never need it, is the message from Maeve Montgomery, the Dementia Advisor for Louth, Cavan and Monaghan for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
This guide enables people to have the right information at the right time – when they are calm and not when in a crisis,” she said
‘When care is needed, it can be an emotional time for the person and their families. There’s no harm in having a little look at it now so you are somewhat prepared, if long-term care is ever needed.
‘ The book tries to reduce the stress of making the decisions by giving all the information needed in a simplistic way.’
Louth County Council Cathaoirleach Colm Markey hailed the booklet as an important reading resource for all families.
‘It is an excellent booklet which simplifies the scheme and takes the mystery out of it for many people. It’s a simple guide for understanding how it works.’