Respite and transitional care in a nursing home

Nursing homes don't only provide long-term care. Many keep some beds for shorter stays. Fair Deal doesn't cover any of these, so it's worth knowing how each one is arranged and paid for.

Respite is when the person you care for is looked after by someone else for a while, so you can rest, go on holiday or deal with your own health. For older people it's often provided in a nursing home or an HSE community nursing unit, for anything from a few nights to a couple of weeks.

According to Citizens Information, HSE respite is organised through your public health nurse or GP. Contact your local public health nurse, usually based in the primary care centre, to arrange an assessment of the person's needs. What's available depends a lot on where you live, and HSE respite beds are often booked well in advance.

• HSE respite in a public unit may have a charge, depending on the area and the person's circumstances. Ask the public health nurse what it will be.
• Private respite is booked and paid for directly with the nursing home. Homes set their own respite rates, which can differ from their Fair Deal price. Ask for the rate in writing.
• Carer's Support Grant. Full-time carers can get this yearly payment from the Department of Social Protection and spend it however they like, including on respite. It's paid automatically in June to people on Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Others can apply. See Citizens Information for the conditions.
• Tax relief. Fees you pay to a nursing home that provides 24-hour on-site nursing care can qualify for income tax relief at your highest rate. See the full costs guide.

After a hospital stay, some people need a few weeks of extra care to get their strength back before they go home. Others are waiting for a Fair Deal decision and can't stay in an acute bed. For both, the HSE has transitional care funding, which pays for a stay in a private nursing home for a limited time.

• It's applied for by the hospital, ideally while the person is still an inpatient. Ask the medical social worker.
• Approval isn't guaranteed. Citizens Information says it's only given in a limited number of cases.
• If the person needs long-term care, apply for Fair Deal at the same time, because Fair Deal is never backdated.

Our guide to going from hospital to a nursing home covers the whole process.

• Ring several homes. Many keep only one or two respite beds, and summer and Christmas fill up early.
• Ask whether they need a GP letter, a medication list (kardex) or a recent care assessment before the stay.
• Ask what's included, such as activities, laundry and hairdressing, and whether there's a deposit or cancellation charge.
• A respite stay is a good way to get to know a home if long-term care may be needed later.