Moving into a nursing home
What to consider when moving to a nursing home
When moving to a nursing home, it’s important to understand your care options, how costs are covered and how to manage your finances and rights. You should check that any nursing home is registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and review inspection reports, as well as confirm whether care is public, voluntary or private.
Many people use the Fair Deal (Nursing Homes Support) Scheme, which assesses your income and assets and covers the balance of approved long‑term care costs. Planning ahead for managing money, considering legal arrangements like an Enduring Power of Attorney and reviewing the contract of care before moving in can help protect your interests and give peace of mind.
How do you choose a nursing home?
All nursing homes in Ireland, public, voluntary and private, are registered and inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
- Public nursing homes are run by the Health Service Executive (HSE)
- Voluntary homes are run by charities or religious orders
- Private homes are run by commercial businesses
If you are exploring nursing homes, check that they are registered with HIQA and review recent inspection reports. The reports will give you an insight into the most recent compliance levels and standards.
The HSE offers useful advice on how to choose a nursing home. Go to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) website to find a nursing home in your area.
What is the Fair Deal Scheme, also known as the Nursing Homes Support Scheme?
The Fair Deal Scheme, also known as the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, provides financial support for long-term nursing home care. It is managed by the HSE.
Under the Fair Deal Scheme:
- You contribute towards the cost of care
- The State pays the balance
- It applies to approved public, voluntary and private nursing homes
- It covers long-term care only – not respite, convalescence or day care
Optional Nursing Home Loan: If you have assets such as land or property, including your home, you can use these assets to apply for a nursing home loan to help fund your care. The loan is paid back after death. For more, visit the HSE website.
According to the Department of Health the scheme includes:
- Bed and board
- Nursing and personal care
- Laundry service
- Basic aids and appliances
Your eligibility for other schemes like the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card is not affected.
How do you apply for the Fair Deal Scheme?
Anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland (living here for at least one year) can apply.
Apply through the HSE and your local Nursing Home Support Office, using the standard application form.
The process includes:
- A financial assessment – based on income and assets
- Please examine the information on the financial assessment on the HSE website
- A care needs assessment
You can choose any approved nursing home, provided:
- It can meet your care needs
- It has an available place
Once confirmed, you pay your contribution and the HSE pays the balance. Go to the HSE's page on Nursing home support scheme agreed maximum prices.
How do you manage your money in long-term care?
Think about how you’ll access and manage your money. Consider appointing someone you trust to access your accounts and make payments on your behalf.
Power of Attorney
In Ireland, a Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document where you (the Donor) grant another person (the Attorney) authority to make decisions or act on your behalf. Under Irish law, there are two separate arrangements:
- Power of Attorney (PoA): A general or specific authority that applies while you have decision-making capacity and ends if you lose that capacity.
- Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA): Only takes effect if you lose decision-making capacity and must be registered with the Decision Support Service (DSS) if created on or after 26 April 2023.
Making an EPA is a two-stage process:
- Create and register the EPA while you have decision-making capacity.
- Activate it if you lose that capacity (your attorney notifies DSS).
EPAs must be in writing, signed by you and your attorney, witnessed and include supporting documents such as a legal practitioner statement and a capacity statement. Solicitors and the DSS provide guidance on creating and registering these documents. Please visit Citizens Information for more advice on this important legal action.
Decision support arrangements
There are also additional decision support arrangements in Ireland which may offer support to you:
- Decision-making assistant agreement: Allows you to appoint a person(s) to assist you in gathering and understanding information.
- Co-decision-making agreement: Allows you to appoint a person to jointly make decisions with you.
- Decision-making representation order: A court order that appoints a person to make decisions on your behalf if you no longer have capacity to make these decisions yourself.
You can find more information on these arrangements on the Decision Support Service (DSS) website.
What are your rights in a nursing home?
Before entering residential care, a contract of care is agreed between you and the nursing home. It must include:
- Terms and conditions of care
- Services to be provided
- Fees to be paid
Read more about what to look for in the CCPC web page on contract of care.
How can you complain about a nursing home?
Care providers must have procedures for handling complaints and must inform you how to make one.
If you’re not satisfied:
- Contact HIQA to report concerns
- Contact the Ombudsman for complaints about public or private homes
- Learn more about how to complain to the Ombudsman
If you have questions about your rights as a consumer, contact the CCPC.
