Karen Walsh: My father needs nursing home support — what is a Care Representative?

Legal Advice: A Care Representative is a person appointed by the circuit court to apply for a state loan in relation to the nursing home support scheme (also known as Fair Deal)

If you feel the application will be contested, you should engage a solicitor from the outset. Picture: iStock

Dear Karen

My father a while back was diagnosed with dementia and it is quite progressive with the doctor saying he needs to have 24-hour care and ideally needs to go into a nursing home. I need to apply to the HSE for nursing home support and I have been advised that a Care Representative needs to be appointed to apply for the Fair Deal Scheme on his behalf. What is a Care Representative? I do not know anything about this. What is involved?