Pensioners could be asked to pay €5 an hour towards homecare

A flat-rate contribution of €5 per home support hour is one of the options being considered by the ESRI. Picture: iStock

Pensioners could be asked to pay €5 an hour towards homecare under a new home support scheme, the ESRI has said in a Department of Health-commissioned review of funding options.

The review, published on Wednesday, examines a range of co-payment options that could support homecare in the way the Fair Deal scheme supports nursing homes.