Home Help & Home Care

carazeb

Hi,

an elderly relative of mine is currently receiving care (around 2.5 hrs per week) that was organised by the Public Health Nurse. I believe that it is home help (as opposed to home care) that he is currently receiving, but I am not sure. However, his care needs are now becoming greater. He mostly needs help with general household tasks, shopping, preparing food etc at the moment, but will probably require a little help with personal hygiene shortly also.

What I am unclear about is the type or spectrum of care that is offered under the home help scheme and the home care scheme. My understanding is that home help relates primarily to household tasks, and home care relates more to nursing and personal hygiene care - is this correct? I just want to be clear about what type of care we should be trying to get for him when we approach his PHN again. Thanks xx

carricka

It's always worth checking with your local Citizens Information Service.

Their information on HSE Home Care Packages is at http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health_services_for_older_people/home_care_packages_for_carers.html.

The information on the HSE Home Help Packages is at http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/care_in_your_community/home_helps.html.

To be honest, I'm not appreciated the differences before. It looks like the Home Help can be an element of a Home Care Package.

Hope this helps.

lila1

Hi home help is provided by the hse. A few years ago when times were good there was a service known as the home care package this was available to someone who had just came out of hospital. I think this might have been stopped. When you see your phn tell her your concerns and your friend will be assessed again. It will probably be the same home help that will now provide the personal care and will be allocated extra time