The short answer
Most families first look for information during an emergency, which is the hardest time to learn how anything works. Knowing the routes in advance, and having had one honest conversation, takes a lot of the panic out of it.
Everything in this section is CareMap practical advice rather than an official requirement.
Have the conversation while it is hypothetical
- What matters most to them about staying at home?
- What would they accept help with first, and from whom?
- Who should be contacted if something happens?
- What would they want considered if residential care were ever raised?
A simple offline list is enough
Keep a short written list of key contacts and where important documents are kept — at home, on paper, with the person's agreement. There is no need to gather or copy personal identifiers to plan ahead, and CareMap never asks for them: your Care Check answers stay in your own browser and we do not want identity or medical card numbers entered anywhere on this site.
- GP practice and pharmacy contact details
- Who else is involved — family, neighbours, any existing services
- Where documents are kept, rather than copies of the documents themselves
- Alarm, key holder and Eircode details if relevant
Look at the house before it forces the issue
- Stairs, bathroom access and whether a downstairs toilet is possible
- Lighting on landings and outside doors
- Loose rugs, trailing flexes and clutter on routes to the bathroom
- Whether a personal alarm or a phone within reach would help
Know the routes in advance
- How HSE Home Support is applied for, and which local office covers the address
- What carer supports exist if a family member takes on caring
- Which adaptation grants the local authority administers
- How the Nursing Homes Support Scheme works, if residential care is ever considered
Decision-making and legal matters
CareMap does not provide legal advice and does not paraphrase the law here. For planning about supporting someone's decision-making, use the current official guidance from the Decision Support Service, and take your own legal advice.
Sources
- Citizens Information Board — Citizens Information — older people and carers
Open the official source - Decision Support Service — Decision Support Service — supporting decision-making in Ireland
Open the official source - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage — Housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability
Open the official source - HSE — Nursing Homes Support Scheme — Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal)
Open the official source
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.