Fair Deal Advice Blog

New Nursing Home Support Scheme Application Form will make applying for the Fair Deal more difficult for Applicants and their families

New Nursing Home Support Scheme Application Form and Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, will make applying for the Fair Deal more difficult for Applicants and their families.

With effect from April 23 the HSE have replaced the Nursing Home Support Scheme Application Form after the previous form was in circulation for nearly 14 years. The change in the form was made necessary I understand by the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act commencing on the 26^th of April 2023 (I will write a separate article on this in due course).

While the original form was 22 pages long the HSE in their wisdom have made the new application form 34 pages long with the applicant or their family having to go through 12 pages of explanations and instructions before they can even enter their name! You can understand my concern on the difficulties that families and applicants will encounter when faced with such a large form to complete. We are already hearing it on a daily basis.

For most applicants they will only have to fill in 10 or 14 pages while Farmer’s and Business owners will have to fill in 18 pages! A daunting task for most people.

In addition to making the application form more difficult and lengthier to fill out, the HSE have changed the rules as to who can sign the application on behalf of an applicant. This is now restricted to:

• • Spouse or Partner,
• • Child over 18 years,
• • A registered medical practitioner,
• • a registered nurse,
• • a registered social worker,
• • the Committee of a Ward of Court,
• • A person(s) appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney,
• • or a Decision-Making Representative appointed by Court Order.

Brothers and Sisters relatives or friends are not longer allowed to sign the application forms on behalf of their relatives or friends due to the Assisted Decision- Making Capacity Act which does not recognise their importance, which is ridiculous as not everyone who needs care has a spouse or a child. Why a brother or Sister or a friend is deemed less important than a medical practitioner, a nurse or a social worker is beyond my comprehension and just highlights the lack of thought that has gone into the new act that has taken 8 years to be implemented.

The Care Representative Order which was designed to help draw down the Nursing Home loan for those who lost capacity and did not have a EPOA in place has now been replaced by a Decision-Making Representative. A complicated process is again required to be appointed.

While the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act 2015 was intended to assist those with capacity issues it is unbelievable but perhaps to be expected that those implementing it have failed to work with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure its fit for purpose, which clearly from the start it is not despite having 8 years to get it right!!

If you need help or assistance completing the new application form at Fairdealadvice.ie, we as always are here to help you navigate the bureaucracy that is in place in order to get the Fair Deal for your loved one. Contact us on 086 6015042 or by email advice@fairdealadvice.ie or visit our website www.fairdealadvice.ie.