Older people and carers

HSE Home Support Service

Free help at home from the HSE for older people, with things like getting up, dressing and showering. There is no means test and you do not need a medical card.

Checked against the official pages on 19 September 2026.

What it is

The HSE Home Support Service, often called home help or home care hours, helps older people stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

Carers help with everyday tasks such as getting in and out of bed, dressing and undressing, and personal care like showering or shaving. The care comes from HSE staff or an HSE approved provider.

What it is worth

It is a service, not a cash payment. It is free, your income is not checked and you do not need a medical card.

There is no fixed number of hours. The support you get depends on your needs, as set out in a needs assessment. The HSE does not publish a standard number of hours or a euro value.

If you want more support than the HSE offers, you pay for the extra yourself.

Who can get it

People aged 65 or over who may need help to keep living at home, or to return home after a hospital stay.

Some people under 65 may also qualify, for example people with early onset dementia or a disability.

You can apply if you are at home, in hospital, or in a nursing home and want to return home.

There is no means test and no medical card is needed.

The decision is based on the needs assessment and on any other community supports available to you. The form's declaration says that if your needs can be met through other community services, you may not get home support at this time.

Consumer Directed Home Support (CDHS)

CDHS is an option you can ask for on the application form, in Part 10. It gives you more say in how your care is delivered.

If you are approved for CDHS, the HSE sends you a letter confirming a weekly amount of funding. You choose one or more HSE approved providers and arrange the days and times with them. The HSE pays the provider directly.

The number of hours you get depends on the provider's rates and the days and times you choose. Providers cannot charge more than the rates agreed with the HSE, and cannot add extra fees or charges.

Who can fill in the form for your parent

Your parent can fill it in themselves. If they cannot, someone can do it for them with their knowledge and consent:

• A spouse or partner
• A child or stepchild aged 18 or over
• A nominated family member or carer
• Their GP or a registered nurse
• Another registered healthcare professional, such as a social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or dietitian
• The committee of a ward of court, a person appointed under a registered enduring power of attorney, or a decision-making representative appointed by the court. These three must include copies of the relevant documents.

A decision supporter can also apply for your parent, and explains why in Part 3 of the form. Only someone legally allowed to act for your parent can sign Part 12, the declaration, instead of them.

What you’ll need

• The Home Support Service Application form (24 pages, also available in Irish). Download it from www2.hse.ie or ask your local Home Support Office
• Your parent's full legal name, date of birth, PPS number, mother's birth name, address with Eircode, phone numbers and email address. The PPS number is on a payslip, a letter from Revenue, a social services card or a medical card
• Details of a nominated contact person, if you want one (Part 2)
• A copy of any agreement registered with the Decision Support Service, such as a co-decision-making agreement or an enduring power of attorney (Part 3). If a ward of court committee, an attorney or a court appointed decision-making representative fills in the form, include copies of the documents that show this
• Names of any family members who give care at home, and whether they live with your parent (Part 4)
• If your parent is not living at home right now, for example in hospital, the details of where they are. A healthcare professional fills in this part (Part 5)
• GP name, practice, address and phone number (Part 6)
• A list of other community supports your parent gets or has applied for, such as public health nurse, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, respite, day care or meals on wheels (Part 7)
• Details of any community healthcare professional involved, such as the public health nurse (Part 8)
• Anything else that supports the application (Part 9)
• No income, savings or bank documents. There is no means test
• Do not send original documents. The HSE cannot return them. Use the checklist on page 24 of the form before you post it

How to apply

1. Get the Home Support Service Application form. Download it from www2.hse.ie, ask your local Home Support Office, or phone HSE Live on 1800 700 700 and they will post information out. If your parent is in hospital, ask the person managing their discharge plan for the form, as early in the stay as you can.
2. Fill it in, by hand in block capitals with a black ballpoint pen, or on a computer and then print it. Your parent can do it, or someone can do it for them (see who can fill in the form).
3. Fill in Part 10 if you want Consumer Directed Home Support.
4. Sign and date Part 12. Your parent signs, unless someone legally allowed to act for them signs instead.
5. Post the form to your local Home Support Office. Addresses and phone numbers for every area are on the HSE page Contact a Home Support Office.
6. The HSE arranges a needs assessment, usually by a public health nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. They look at everyday activities like bathing, shopping, dressing and moving around, the services your parent already gets, family and community support, and your parent's own wishes.
7. The HSE writes to tell you the outcome, and whether CDHS was approved. If HSE staff are not available, you choose from a list of approved providers (pick more than one if you can) or let the HSE choose. The HSE then arranges the days and times with you and the provider.

Key dates and how long it takes

• There is no deadline. You can apply at any time.
• The HSE does not publish a decision time or a waiting time.
• If your parent is approved while in hospital, they may get support to help them return home. Their needs are assessed again shortly after they get home, and the support may be adjusted.
• Tell the Home Support Office if anything changes, such as better health, a hospital admission, a respite stay or staying with family for a while. The HSE may increase, reduce or keep the support the same.
• It is a service, not a payment, so there is no backdating.

Who to contact

If you are turned down

• If the application is not approved, the HSE sends a letter. The decision is based on the needs assessment.
• If you are not happy with it, write to your local Home Support Office within 20 days of getting the letter. Explain why you are not satisfied. The decision will be reviewed and you will be told the outcome.

Things people miss

• In hospital, ask for the form early. The HSE says this helps avoid delays in going home.
• Fill in Part 7 fully. The HSE looks at other community supports when it decides, so it needs the whole picture.
• Use Part 9 to explain what a normal day looks like and where your parent struggles. The assessment looks at everyday tasks like bathing, dressing and moving around.
• When choosing a provider, pick more than one. Your first choice may not be available.
• Approved providers can only charge the rates agreed with the HSE. Your provider may ask you to confirm that the care matches what was agreed.
• Home support covers care, not changes to the house. If your parent needs a stairlift, a level-access shower or grab rails, that is the council's Housing Adaptation Grant or Mobility Aids Grant. See thegranthub.ie/grants/
• A family member who cares for your parent full time may qualify for the €2,000 Carer's Support Grant. See thegranthub.ie/grants-ireland/carers-support-grant/

Common questions