Community Care Services

Home Help

The Heath Services Executive (HSE) may provide home help services to people who need them.

Home help services are provided in order to assist people to remain in their own home and to avoid the necessity of entering into care. The HSE either provides the home help service directly or makes arrangements with voluntary organisations to provide them.

Home helps usually assist people with normal household tasks although they may also help with personal care. Home helps do not provide nursing or medical care. Home help service is means-tested, so you may have to make a contribution towards the cost, even if you hold a medical card.

How to apply

You should apply to your local public health nurse, who will assess your need for the service and then process the application to the HSE. Each application is considered on its own merit and a number of factors will be taken into account including income, other family support available and remoteness from services.

Public Health Nurses

Health Service Executive Areas are obliged to provide a free nursing service to medical card holders. The service is not necessarily confined to medical card holders, although they get priority as they have a legal entitlement. The services provided by the public health nurses vary from area to area and they frequently act as a point of access for other community care services.

Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy

Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy services are generally provided in the community and are free to medical card holders. There may be waiting lists for these services.

Technical Aids

The HSE is obliged to provide medical and surgical aids and appliances such as wheelchairs and walking aids, free of charge, to medical card holders. If you do not have a medical card, you may get such aids and appliances free, if they are part of hospital treatment.

If you have private health insurance, you may be covered for some or part of the costs.

Respite Care

Respite care or temporary care is provided at various centres. There is a charge for respite care (even for medical card holders). For details of charges, you should contact the care centre involved or your nearest Citizens Information.

Day Centres

Day Centres providing a range of different services – recreational and/or medical are available and access is usually by referral. Eligibility conditions may vary with means test applying in some cases.

Further information on any of the community services is available from:

HSE – Ballybofey 074 – 9131391

HSE – Manorhamilton 074 – 9820400

Your local CIC

Home Care Grant

The Home Care Grant is available to people who are

• 65 years of age
• are currently in receipt of community support services and
• wish to remain living at home but cannot do so without financial assistance to pay for additional community supports and/or services
• The grant is available to Persons deemed to be of high or maximum dependency level
• A needs assessment is carried out by the Public Health Nurse to help determine the level of care required

• Home Care Package

• A Home Care Package consists of a range of Services put in place to assist the Older Person, to return to and remain at home.
• A Home Care Package will not normally exceed a six week period.
• The Package is tailored to meet the individual’s assessed needs.
• The Home Care Package differs from normal delivery of care in the community as it allows for the provision of enhances Services, beyond the normal levels available in the community on a time limited basis, to assist with the transition period between hospital and home or to prevent or delay admissions to Acute Hospital, Community Hospital or Continuing Care.

• For further information contact:

Home Care Grants Section, Subvention Office, Navenny House, Navenny Street, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. Tel. (074) 9189168 or

Carer’s Support Worker – Marie O’Neill at 087-9839514