The Fair Deal Scheme and Nursing Home care in Ireland

[john40]

I would like to hear peoples experiences of both in this country.

Unfortunately my Father was diagnosed with rapid dementia in March and has subsequently had to enter full time nursing hone care since June. His decline I'm sad to say has been pretty fast.

We applied for the fair deal funding scheme about 3 weeks ago and received notification that once it has been approved we will have to pay a contribution of €402 per week. The particular nursing home where he is charges €4,517 per month. I have always been a little disgusted with the costs of nursing home care in this country.

I have also been more than worried about certain practices that go on in some of these homes and have witnessed a few in the last few months firsthand. I appreciate how hard a job they have (I worked in the health service based in a hospital for 25 years so have an idea of the pressures they're under), but that doesn't mean they can't treat their residents with the respect they deserve.

I know the government can't be expected to pay for everything but am I the only one who thinks that if you've worked all your life, which my Father had as an ambulance driver for 35 yrs and you contributed by means of tax, PRSI etc. That if you need care in later life you should be looked after ?