Nursing Care and Assisted Living: What Are Your Entitlements and How to Get Started
Home caregiver, daycare center, nursing home, or assisted living facility – all assistance options and what the process includes
Over time, needs change. What was once taken for granted doesn't always remain so. Sometimes this happens gradually - we get older, and things that were once simple become more difficult. Other times, it happens suddenly, following an injury, surgery, or a change in health condition. In both cases, the question arises: What do we do now?
If this question has come up for you or a family member, this article is for you.
Assistance with nursing care and assisted living: Important eligibility to know
One of the benefits that is not always well-known is the assistance provided by the Department of Families, Commemoration and Heritage in the areas of nursing care and assisted living. Many assume that only the National Insurance Institute offers support in this field, but eligible individuals under the department also have access to assistance. This support includes funding for a caregiver, participation in the costs of a day center or nursing home, and grant for entering an assisted living facility. Assistance is also available to eligible individuals residing abroad.
Beyond the financial aspect, social workers from the department also provide emotional support throughout the process - especially since the decision to seek help is not always easy.
4 ways to receive assistance
There are several ways to receive assistance from the department, depending on the situation and need:
Daycare center:
Daily activities in the community for senior citizens, including support and activities throughout the day. The department will participate in funding.
Learn more on this topicLocal or foreign caregiver:
Daily assistance at home, which may include help with mobility, bathing, cooking and household management. You can hire a caregiver through a nursing company or independently, and the department will assist with funding.
Learn more on this topicNursing home or retirement home:
When round-the-clock care is required due to a health condition or mental frailty, the department offers full funding or reimbursement, depending on the chosen framework.
Learn more on this topicAssisted living:
Transition to an independent living framework with a safety net. If you have moved to assisted living facility or an independent living department in a retirement home, you may receive from the department a one-time grant for assistance with entrance fees or deposits.
Not sure what suits you? The welfare worker can help determine what is relevant to your situation.
The difference between our assistance and that of the National Insurance Institute
Unlike the National Insurance Institute, the Department of Families, Commemoration and Heritage does not require beneficiaries to undergo an income evaluation. If you have a medical need (as per an appropriate medical document), assistance will be provided to you regardless of your income.
It is important to emphasize that it is not possible to receive nursing assistance from both entities simultaneously. In certain situations, assistance from the National Insurance Institute may include a broader scope of hours. To make the right decision, the welfare worker can help determine what is more suitable for your situation.
How to get started?
The first step depends on the type of assistance you seek:
Assistance at home or a daycare center
Starting this process involves 3 simple steps:
Download the functional assessment form from the department's website.
Fill out the form with a family physician, or with a nurse at your HMO. The form assesses functional ability in 3 areas: basic functioning, household management, and cognitive status.
Submit the completed form, along with the relevant documents, to the welfare worker.
Moving to a nursing home or an assisted living facility
In this case, you don't need a functional assessment form. The first step is to contact the welfare worker, who will explain the assistance options depending on the chosen framework.
You should knowSome eligible people only apply when the situation is already complicated. There is no need to wait - you can start the process even when the need is still partial. Applying early allows you to adjust the assistance in time.
What happens next?
The welfare worker will examine eligibility, conduct an inquiry with the National Insurance Institute, determine the scope of assistance, and can also assist in choosing the appropriate path.
When it's hard to ask for help
Sometimes a person who needs assistance is also the one who has the most difficulty accepting it. "I'm fine," "I don't need help," "I don't want a stranger in the house" - these are sentences that many family members are familiar with. Sometimes it is extremely hard to admit the need, and in some cases the person is not aware that the situation has changed.
It is not easy from the other side either. Family members who see the change may feel that they are being forced, or that they are making a decision that is not theirs to make.
The department's employees are familiar with these situations. They will also accompany the process emotionally - not only with the eligible person, but also with the family members.
If the need for nursing care assistance arises - for you or for a family member - you don't have to wait and you don't have to hesitate alone. You can contact the welfare worker, ask questions, and figure out together what the next step is. A request is not a commitment - it is a conversation in which you can ask questions, understand what is relevant, and make a decision later.