Vol. 463 No. 8
72 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health his views on the current practice of means testing adult children of applicants to private nursing homes; his views on whether this is unfair on the children of a dependent elderly person; and the steps, if any, he proposes to take to reform this practice in view of the fact that there is no such assessment on a family if a patient enters a public institution. [7435/96]
80 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health his views on the current practice of means testing adult children of applicants to private nursing homes; his further views on whether it is unfair on the children of a dependent elderly person; and the steps, if any, he proposes to take to reform this practice in view of the fact that there is no such assessment on a family if a patient enters a public institution. [7635/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 80 together.
The subvention scheme which accompanied the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 was implemented on 1 September 1993 and ensures that those most in need of care in a nursing home, and without the means to pay for it, receive assistance towards the cost. With regard to the question about the assessment of adult children of an applicant for subvention, a health board may only assess a son or daughter's ability to contribute towards the cost of the nursing home fees of a parent if the son or daughter is aged 21 years and over, is residing in the jurisdiction and possesses sufficient personal income according to the procedures laid out in the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993. Of the 8,015 subventions approved to the end of February 1996 health boards had made a reduction as a result of the son or daughter's ability to pay in 1,458 cases, or one in six of the subventions approved.
