Heritage Homecare is approved to provide HSE Home Care packages to Older People in the regions of Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East. Below is some information on how to apply for a HSE Home Care package:
What is a Home Care Package?
Home Care Packages are a range of supports funded by the HSE to help an older person to be cared for in their own home. The main element of a Home Care Package is homecare hours, but other services are often provided including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech & language therapy, day care services, respite care, etc In practice, most home care hours are provided by private companies (such as Heritage Homecare), but paid for by the HSE. The private company will invoice the HSE directly for hours provided.
Who is entitled to receive a Home Care Package?
Home Care Packages are intended to support older people to return home from hospital or to remain at home rather than be admitted to hospital or a Nursing Home. Therefore most people who are granted a package will be aged over 65 and may be already using some HSE community services.
The Home Care package scheme is not means tested: packages are granted based on your assessed care needs subject to the limit of the resources available for the scheme in the local HSE health office area at any given time.
So how do I apply for a Home Care Package ?
If you are already in hospital, you should apply from hospital, by first speaking to the Nurse or Social Worker. Often the hospital will insist that you have a home care package in place before they will discharge you.
If you are at home already, the application for a Home Care package should be made through your Public Health Nurse.
In either case, when you apply, the HSE will carry out a Care Needs Assessment for you. This will look at your overall health care needs and your social circumstances, and will identify what level of care you are currently receiving and what other supports you may need. In order to be allocated a HSE Home Care Package, this assessment has to confirm that enhanced levels of service/support are required.
The assessment will look at your needs, including:
- Your ability to carry out the activities of daily living, e.g. bathing, shopping, dressing and moving around
- Any medical, health and personal social services being provided to you
- Your family, social and community supports
- Your wishes and preferences.
The assessment may include a physical examination by a healthcare professional.
What happens after that ?
If you are approved for a home care package, you will receive a Care Plan from the HSE (which will usually have been written by the Public Health Nurse). This will specify how many hours the HSE will pay for and what care is to be provided during those hours.
You will also receive a form which lists the approved Home Care Providers in your area (the so called “yellow form”. You then choose which provider(s) you have a preference for by selecting 1,2 and 3 etc on the form, and return it to your local HSE office. It is a good idea to speak to some of those providers before selecting one so you can make an informed choice. If the Provider you have selected first has the capacity to provide the care specified at that time, they will be appointed to you and the homecare will commence. If not, then your second choice will be offered your case, and so on.
Can I pay for additional home care hours privately ?
Of course you can ask your Home Care provider to provide additional hours over and above those funded by the HSE if you so wish. These additional hours will be invoiced separately to you, once you have agreed them.
Where do I get more information ?
The HSE has 32 local Home Care Package offices nationwide, where you can send your completed application:
- For HSE home care packages in Dun Laoghaire, the relevant office is located at Tivoli Road, Dun Laoghaire, phone 01 236 5200.
- For homecare packages in Dublin South East, the relevant office is at Vergemount, Clonskeagh, phone 01 268 0300.
- For home care packages in Dublin West, South West and Dublin South City, the relevant office is at Junction House, Airton Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 phone 01 921 4719
The HSE Home Care Packages application form can be downloaded here
THe HSE Home Care Packages information booklet can be downloaded here