Nursing home deal unclear

CONFUSION surrounds the roll-out of the nursing home Fair Deal scheme, with advocates of the elderly warning only the very sick or frail may be able to secure beds under current plans.

Age Action is concerned plans to charge nursing home residents most of their disposable income, or a portion of their home’s value, will discriminate against the elderly, marking them out from patients who have cancer or heart disease.

“It is possible an applicant for a nursing home bed could be refused, on the basis that they should be able to live an independent life in their own home, with sufficient community care support,” Age Action’s chief executive Robin Webster told an Oireachtas committee on health.