The HSE’s Home Care Package scheme aims to help people with medium-to-high support needs to continue to live at home independently. Home Care Packages consist of community services and supports which may be provided to assist a person, depending on their individual assessed care needs, to return home from hospital or residential care or to remain at home where mainstream or normal levels of services are insufficient.
The services provided in a Home Care Package may include nursing and therapies (for example - physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy), respite care and aids or appliances which may be relevant to the needs of stroke survivors. The services delivered are based upon the assessed client needs and the level of other supports already provided such as Home Help services.
Intensive Home Care Packages is a limited service which allows people who require a very high level of assistance to be discharged home from acute hospitals or avoid admission. They include supports over and above those provided as part of a standard Home Care Package or current community services.
The Department is currently developing policy proposals for the future financing and regulation of home care, including the Home Help Service and Home Care Packages. An important step in this process is a public consultation process which will be launched shortly. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers.
