Home help for elderly

frank017 · 25-03-2026 04:15PM #1

Hi All,

Just wondering how many hours the HSE will give for home help for an elderly person.

Have a parent in their eighties had a critical illness so when came back home from hospital we had to get help in from one of the agencies all

happened quite quickly so at the moment we are paying for this service ourselves. Haven't been in this situation before so if anyone who has experience of this would be great. I have heard that you might only get 45 minutes a day or something like that, but it would still be a help.

Thanks

endofrainbow · 25-03-2026 06:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058436322/home-help-for-elderly

Home help has been drastically cut - can you link in with the Social worker in the Hospital? Community nurses are a great resource.

sdp · 26-03-2026 07:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058436322/home-help-for-elderly

Hi, I also now have my Mother living with me, as said above get in touch with the community nurse. They will assess your needs. I have home care in four days a week, between 30mins to 45 mins. They are very understaffed, you may be waiting a bit especially rural which I am. They will do all they can to help you, a true blessing for me.

Cherry Blossom · 26-03-2026 08:02AM

My mum gets 1 hour two mornings a week when she has a shower. 30 minutes all other visits, she gets 3 visits a day. No one gets more than an hour on any visit. It’s a hectic day driving around from one visit to the next for them and sometimes not everyone gets the full time that has been allocated to them. You would be surprised how much can be done in 30 minutes though. Home help only provide personal care, there is no cleaning/housework included in the service (unless you pay privately). They will change beds as needed and make a light meal (sandwich/porridge etc) and tidy up after themselves, but heavy cleaning is not in their remit.

Dubwat · 26-03-2026 08:02AM

I'm in Dublin Northside. Following a GP referral, our local Public Health Nurse visited after about 6 weeks. We asked for and got 2 hours, one afternoon per week. I think it depends on your needs and the nurse did say there were people in my area getting a lot more help than we asked for. Having said that, the nurse did hint it can be a bit of a lottery depending on how full 'the money pot' is at any one time.

Good luck with it. You can only ask!

Dubwat · 26-03-2026 08:24AM

Forgot to add… the nurse will likely ask you if other family members can pitch in and help. I don't know if this is a 'trick' question but maybe have your answer ready as to why others can't help consistently and that's why you need the home help.

Deeec · 26-03-2026 03:59PM

Going through similar at the moment. My mam was approved for 3 hrs ( which is very little time) per week last november - so far no home help has been provided at all. I call the office every week and all I get is promises. Its a shameful system where people are approved for home help and then receive nothing. I feel for people that have no families - I guess they are just ignored and left to die if they have nobody to look after them. The authorities dont care, thats for sure.

AugustRain · 26-03-2026 09:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124342478#Comment_124342478

People with no families have the option of the “fair deal” in the nursing home, as does everybody. Fair Deal garuntees that everyone is equal in their later years regardless of wealth.
Please don’t push the idea that people are left to die if they don’t have family.
That’s not the case.

AugustRain · 26-03-2026 09:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058436322/home-help-for-elderly

OP, when your relative was being discharged, who was the next of kin? The PHN would have reached out to this person to talk about the relatives care going into the future.

You need to contact the PHN for the area your loved one lives in. You will get this information in the loved ones local Health Centre. .

whelan2 · 26-03-2026 09:28PM

We get 45 minutes a day 5 days a week. Also weekend care is available if needed. It's all that's needed atm. It's the social part that's great for my parents. Phn organised it.

Home help for elderly

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