Frequently Asked Questions

What is home care?

The term ‘home care' refers to any type of care that is provided to a person in their home.

CommuniCare focuses on the provision of non-medical care such as personal care, domestic assistance and companionship. Care may be provided in whatever environment a client calls home, whether that means their private home, a residential care facility or a homeless shelter.

CommuniCare focuses on the provision of non-medical care such as personal care, domestic assistance and companionship. Care may be provided in whatever environment a client calls home, whether that means their private home, a residential care facility or a homeless shelter.

What is holistic care?

Holistic Care is the delivery if individualised care - aimed at addressing every aspect of a person's wellbeing: mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental. All of these elements combine to contribute to a person's state of health.

Mainstream medical care is essential and non-replaceable but is often limited by time contraints and lack of resources. Truly holistic care involves taking the time to 'fill in the gaps' - to examine every aspect of a person's being and give attention to those details that make optimal health for the individual possible. It takes time, nurturing, commitment and access to a range of specialised services.

Is holistic care expensive?

There is increasing evidence to suggest that a holistic approach to health saves considerable expense for the individuals in the medium to long term.

Giving ongoing attention to the wellbeing of the mind, body and spirit using good nutrition, physical touch / nurturing, exercise, an enriching emotional / spiritual life and healthy living environment all contribute to less reliance upon medication and hospitalisation.

Why should I choose holistic care?

Apart from being cheaper in the long term, holistic care is tailored to suit the needs of every individual. In fine detail, it nurtures, provides dignity, gently educates and enables the individual to attain their highest state of wellbeing possible. When practised well, it brings together a range of specialty services to create an optimal wellness program that treats each recipient as unique.

When is care provided?

CommuniCare's Carers and Nurses are available for hourly, daily and overnight care, depending on the client's needs as determined in their individualised care plan. Our administrative staff are on hand during office hours to deal with any queries or alterations to care plans. We also operate a dedicated after-hours phone service at evenings, weekends and bank holidays, ensuring that there's someone at the end of the phone for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

What will a Carer or Nurse do for me?

CommuniCare's Carers aim to support your independence by responding to your needs and assisting you with your personal care, performing light domestic duties and offering you companionship. We can also supply care staff trained in specialised areas such as convalescent care, dementia care and care for sick children. Any additional or specialised requirements you may have can be discussed with our Client Care Manager prior to the commencement of your care plan. CommuniCare also provides qualified Nurses for those clients who require a more specialised and intensive level of health care.

How many care staff will I have?

The number of Carers or Nurses attending to your individual needs will depend on the number of hours of service that you require. It is our preference at CommuniCare to keep the number of Carers attending each client to a minimum, as we feel it is hugely important to maintain continuity and stability in so far as is possible, while allowing the client and their Carers to become familiar with one another. Once we have selected a suitable Carer or Carers for you, our Client Care Manager will arrange for them to be personally introduced to you and your family. We endeavour to provide the staff member who is most suited to your needs and is capable of performing all tasks you require of them.

Why should I choose home care as opposed to nursing home or acute care?

1. Research suggests that, in times of ill health, most people derive great comfort from being with their loved ones in the secure and familiar surroundings of their own home.
2. Home care allows family members to remain in close contact with their loved one without experiencing the stress and strain of providing personal care for them.
3. Home care is often a more cost-effective alternative to admission to a long-term care facility. Many clients find that, while they cannot manage without any help in the home, receiving a few hours of individually-tailored care services each week allows them to continue living independently without stretching their budget.
4. Remaining at home greatly reduces the risk of contracting infections such as MRSA.
5. Home care allows clients to maintain the maximum amount of freedom possible in their condition, without disturbing their daily routines and activities.

How much does home care cost?

Our charge-out rates are based on time booked, not the combination of services provided. All costs will be clearly outlined to, and agreed upon, with prospective clients well in advance of care commencing. You may also be entitled to claim up to 41% tax relief on our services, which would greatly reduce the net cost of your care plan.

How can I fund the cost of home care for my loved one?

There are three principal ways to fund the cost of a home care package:

       HSE Funding:

The Health Service Executive has full responsibility for discharging home care support packages in Ireland. These packages may involve the services of nurses, home care attendants, home helps and various therapists, ranging from physiotherapists to occupational therapists, and are funded by the HSE in order to enable an older person to remain at home.

To avail of such a package, a means or income test will need to be conducted. Each HSE area has the authority to determine how the home care support packages are delivered within their area. Home care packages may be carried out through private home care companies such as CommuniCare. A health assessment will normally be carried out by your local Public Health Nurse (P.H.N.). There are no standard national guidelines for such needs assessments. Once your needs assessment has been carried out, an application for funding for a home care support package will be sent to the relevant division of the HSE for approval. Once this is approved, CommuniCare will directly invoice the HSE area for the cost of the services provided to you, up to the maximum limit sanctioned in accordance with your needs assessment. Any outstanding balance will be billed directly to you.

       Family Contributions:

You may have the option of availing of tax relief at up to 41% on the family contributions, up to a maximum of €50,000 per annum. Your carer may also qualify for carers benefit, carers allowance or a respite care grant.

       Combination of HSE Funding and Family Contributions

You may also be eligible to avail of extra support services provided by local Day Centres. These services may include medical or social care and recreational facilities. As we are a HSE-recognised service provider, the range of services offered by CommuniCare are exempt from VAT, making them more cost effective. Contact CommuniCare now on (01) 8338000 and speak to a staff member who can assist you by providing further information on your entitlements.

Can I avail of tax relief on the cost of my home care package?

In Ireland, the person responsible for paying for a home care package may avail of income tax relief at their top rate of tax, subject to conditions. This means that you could benefit from tax relief of up to 41% on payments to CommuniCare, up to a maximum of €50,000 per annum. It is also possible to claim this relief as part of your tax credits, ensuring that you receive the benefit within your regular wage packet, instead of on an annual basis as part of your tax return. This relief was not affected by recent budgetary changes. For further information on how to avail of this relief, please see www.revenue.ie , or contact a member of our administrative team, who can assist you with your entitlement information. Alternatively, you can download the relevant revenue information leaflet here .

Is CommuniCare a well-established company?

CommuniCare was established in 2004 and has been consistently providing top-quality home care services throughout Ireland for the past five years. In this time, our service range has expanded in line with the increase in our client base. CommuniCare is now one of the most recognisable names in the home care industry in the greater Dublin area and continues to gain further recognition nationwide. We are a founder member of the Irish Private Home Care Association, within which our Managing Director currently holds a board position.

Is CommuniCare fully insured?

Communicare is fully insured for both employers and public liability. In line with industry standards, we carry €6.5 million of public liability insurance coverage and €13 million of employer's liability coverage.

What kind of back-up cover and emergency service does CommuniCare provide?

CommuniCare provides a 24-hour telephone service manned by staff who are equipped to deal with unforeseen circumstances or emergencies during evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Our clients tell us that they derive great comfort from knowing that we also have a number of trained staff members on standby at any given time, ready to provide back-up cover if their regular Carer or Nurse is unable to make it to work.

How do you monitor and review your nursing and care staff?

CommuniCare operates a unique tele-monitoring system for all staff. This system, which requires that our healthcare staff clock-in and clock-out from their working locations, gives clients enormous peace of mind. It allows us to monitor staff attendance and punctuality and alerts us if a staff member is late for work or does not turn up for a scheduled shift. It also ensures that clients are only billed for the time actually worked by their Carer or Nurse.

Our Client Care Managers also conduct random unannounced supervisory visits to our client's homes, designed to monitor staff activity and also to receive feedback from clients as to their level of satisfaction with the services we provide to them. We also regularly invite clients to submit feedback to our office for the purposes of monitoring and improving the quality of our services.

Who pays the Carer or Nurse?

CommuniCare employs all of our Carers and Nurses directly, which means that our office handles all billing, payroll, tax, insurance and administrative responsibilities for all staff members. Your sole responsibility in terms of payment is to submit payment for the amount noted on your weekly invoice to CommuniCare within seven days of receipt of the invoice.

Do CommuniCare charge new clients a start-up fee?

No, CommuniCare do not charge a start-up fee. Our home care assessments are also provided free of charge and on a no-obligation basis.

How do I go about organising home care?

Once you and your family decide that you require some level of home care support, you should contact our office to arrange a meeting with a Client Care Manager. Any type or level of service you require may be discussed. CommuniCare's experienced administrative staff will then select the healthcare staff member best suited to your needs to implement your care plan. As a client of CommuniCare, your needs and wishes are of paramount importance to us. Therefore, should you wish to alter your care plan or change your Carer or Nurse at any time, our Client Care Manager will be happy to facilitate your request.