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Guide

Questions to ask the HSE Home Support Office

The questions that get useful answers when you contact a HSE Home Support Office about an older relative in Ireland.

3 min read

Last reviewed: 11 September 2026Verified

About the assessment

  • Has an assessment of need been completed, and can we have the outcome in writing?
  • Who carried it out, and when?
  • What was recorded about the mornings and evenings specifically?

About the hours

  • How many hours have been approved, and across how many visits?
  • What tasks are the hours intended to cover?
  • How do we request a review if the hours are not enough?

About timing

  • Is the service waiting to start, and what does that mean in practice for us?
  • Who is our named contact if things get worse before it starts?
  • Will the service be delivered by HSE staff or an approved provider?

About continuity

  • Will it be the same carer, and what happens when they are on leave?
  • Is there a number to ring if a visit is missed?

A note on waiting lists

Aggregate waiting-list figures describe pressure on a system. They cannot tell you when one person's service will start. Ask about the individual case rather than the national picture.

Sources

This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.