Funding Your Care

Nursing Home Funding in Ireland

Understanding nursing home funding in Ireland can make planning for long-term care easier for residents and their families. At CareChoice, we aim to provide clear information about the different funding options available and help families understand the next steps.

Depending on individual circumstances, nursing home care may be funded privately or with financial support through the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, commonly known as the Fair Deal Scheme.

Below, you can learn more about the Fair Deal Scheme, private nursing home funding, the application process and other financial supports that may be available.

You can also explore our CareChoice nursing homes or contact CareChoice if you would like to discuss your care options.

Funding Options

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal)

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, commonly known as the Fair Deal Scheme, provides financial support towards the cost of long-term nursing home care.

The HSE carries out a care needs assessment and a financial assessment as part of the application process. The financial assessment determines how much the applicant contributes towards their care, with the HSE paying the balance of the approved nursing home cost.

All of our nursing homes except Newtownpark House accept payment under the Fair Deal Scheme. You can discuss the funding options available with any of our participating homes.

Funding Your Own Nursing Home Care

You can choose to pay privately for nursing home care. Funding arrangements can vary between nursing homes, so it is important to check the options available with your preferred home.

Tax relief may be available on qualifying nursing home expenses that you pay yourself. Revenue states that nursing home expenses can qualify for relief at the individual’s marginal rate of Income Tax, subject to the applicable conditions.

For current information about eligibility and claiming tax relief, please see Revenue’s guidance on nursing home expenses.

Transitional Care Funding

In some circumstances, short-term funding or transitional care arrangements may be available for people moving from an acute hospital setting to a nursing home.

Eligibility and funding arrangements depend on individual circumstances and the relevant healthcare pathway. Your healthcare team can provide information about the options that may be available to you.

Funding for Short-Term Care

Other financial supports may be available depending on individual circumstances and the type of care required.

We recommend speaking with your healthcare team, public health nurse or the relevant HSE service for up-to-date information about financial supports that may be available for short-term or respite care.

Fair Deal Application Process

Care Needs Assessment

The first stage of the Fair Deal application process includes a care needs assessment. This considers whether the applicant requires long-term nursing home care and whether they could continue living at home with appropriate support.

A healthcare professional will assess areas such as the person’s ability to complete everyday tasks, their level of independence and other relevant care needs.

The applicant will receive the decision following the assessment in writing.

Financial Assessment

The HSE carries out a financial assessment to determine how much an applicant contributes towards their nursing home care. The assessment considers income and assets, including savings, investments and property.

For a single applicant, the contribution is generally based on 80% of assessable income and 7.5% of assessable assets per year. The first €36,000 of assets is currently exempt from the assessment.

Different assessment rules apply to couples. The HSE currently assesses 40% of combined assessable income and 3.75% of combined assessable assets, with the first €72,000 of assets exempt.

The applicant’s home is generally included in the financial assessment for a maximum of three years under the Fair Deal three-year cap.

Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support)

The Nursing Home Loan, also known as Ancillary State Support, is an optional part of the Fair Deal Scheme for people with qualifying property or land-based assets in Ireland.

It allows the property-related part of the assessed contribution to be deferred. The HSE pays this amount towards the cost of care, while the relevant property or land is used as security for the loan.

The loan is generally repaid after the person’s death or if the property or asset used as security is sold. In certain circumstances, repayment may be deferred.

As individual circumstances vary, applicants should refer to the HSE for current information about the Nursing Home Loan and its requirements.

Useful Links

About the Fair Deal Scheme About the Fair Deal Financial Assessment About Nursing Home Expenses and Tax Relief
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