Choosing a Nursing Home: Questions to Ask

• Have you accepted that a nursing home is the right next step, rather than home care or another option?ShowHide

  It's worth ruling other options in or out first. The HSE's home support service, day centres and respite stays can help someone stay at home for longer. A nursing home is usually right when someone needs care or nursing around the clock that can't safely be given at home. Their GP, public health nurse or a hospital social worker can help you weigh this up.
• Do you know whose decision this is, and is the person involved in making it?ShowHide

  It's the person's own decision, with support from family if they want it. Even if they find decisions hard, the law expects them to be helped to decide for themselves, and their wishes to be respected. If they can't decide, the Decision Support Service explains who can help, such as someone they named in an enduring power of attorney.
• Has a HSE care needs assessment been done, or do you know how to get one?ShowHide

  A care needs assessment checks whether someone needs long-term nursing home care. If you apply for Fair Deal, the HSE arranges it for you, with a visit from a healthcare professional such as a public health nurse. If the person is in hospital, ask their social worker or care team. How to apply for Fair Deal →

• Do you know what level of care is needed, whether that is personal care, nursing care, or specialist dementia care?ShowHide

  The care needs assessment, the person's GP and their care team are the best guides. Some people mainly need help with washing, dressing and meals; others need nursing care, such as for wounds or medication. Someone living with dementia may be best in a home with a dedicated dementia unit, so ask each home what it can offer.
• Do you know whether those needs are likely to change, and have you thought about a home that can grow with them?ShowHide

  Needs often grow over time, and moving homes later can be unsettling. Ask the person's doctor what to expect, and ask each home whether it can keep caring for someone as their needs increase, including at the end of life.

• Do you know about the Fair Deal scheme and whether you qualify?ShowHide

  Fair Deal is the government scheme that helps pay for nursing home care. You pay a contribution based on your income and what you own, and the State pays the rest. Anyone who ordinarily lives in Ireland and is assessed as needing long-term nursing home care can apply. Who can apply →
• Do you know what the application process involves and how long it takes?ShowHide

  You send a form to your local Nursing Homes Support Office, then the HSE carries out a care needs assessment and a financial assessment. How long it takes varies, so apply early: funding is only paid from the date your application is approved, not from when the person moved in. The steps to apply →
• Do you understand what costs Fair Deal does not cover?ShowHide

  Fair Deal covers standard care, but not extras such as hairdressing, some therapies, outings charged by the home, personal items, or respite. Ask each home for a written list of its extra charges before you decide. What Fair Deal covers →

Read: Fair Deal Explained →

• Do you know which area or county you want to search in?ShowHide

  Many families look near where the person has lived, or near the people who will visit most. Think about familiar places, their GP and local friends too. You can search for a home by town or county.
• Have you thought about how often family will visit and how far is realistic?ShowHide

  Regular visits matter a great deal to most residents. Work out how long the journey is for the people who will visit most, by car and by public transport, and whether that will still work in winter or as they get older themselves.
• Do you know what amenities matter most to the person moving in?ShowHide

  Ask the person what would make a place feel like home: a single room, a garden, somewhere quiet to read, or space to bring their own things. Pick a few that matter most and ask about them on each visit.
• Have you thought about their daily routine, social preferences, and any cultural, religious, or language needs?ShowHide

  Think about how they like to spend their day, when they get up, what they enjoy, and whether they like company or quiet. Ask homes about activities, mealtimes, religious services, and any language, food or cultural needs, and whether they can be met.

• Do you know what HIQA is and how to read an inspection report?ShowHide

  HIQA, the Health Information and Quality Authority, is the independent body that registers and inspects nursing homes in Ireland and publishes a report after each inspection. ClearCare brings a home's reports together on one page, where we have them. How to read a report →
• Do you know what questions to ask when you visit a home?ShowHide

  Read the home's latest inspection report first, and ask about anything it found. Then ask about staff and how long they stay, a typical day, activities, food, visiting, and how the home handles a concern or complaint. Visit more than once if you can, at different times of day.
• Do you know what to look for in a contract before signing?ShowHide

  The home must agree a written contract with the person when they move in, setting out the services and the fees. Check the weekly fee, what it includes, what extra charges there are, what happens if fees change or they need to leave, and how to make a complaint. The CCPC's guide, Moving into a nursing home, explains your rights.

Read: How to Read a HIQA Inspection Report →