Government Facing Pressure To Focus More On At Home Care For The Elderly

The large numbers of Covid-19 deaths in nursing home settings has reignited calls for a shift of focus from the Fair Deal Nursing Home funding scheme to one that funds home care for the elderly.

Under the current scheme, 7.5 per cent of the value of a person's home is charged for three years to pay for the nursing home care.
This can be deferred until after a person's death, but the scheme is not available for home care.
Studies have shown that outcomes for residents in large settings are far poorer than if a person is cared for at home.