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	The assets of applicants to the Fair Deal nursing home scheme should be subject to stricter checks amid warnings that residents are underdeclaring the value of their homes or wealth, a new report recommends.</p>
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	Nursing home applicants in future could face tougher financial data checks, greater scrutiny of their wealth, and have their properties assessed by HSE-appointed valuers, the report says.</p>
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	The Government pledged that, despite concerns about how to care for an ageing population, there will be no increased contribution expected from Fair Deal home residents.</p>
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	The review of the Fair Deal system outlines a series of measures to help boost revenue for the scheme. Introduced in 2009, it allows residents to make a contribution towards the cost of their care and the State pays the rest.</p>
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	More than 22,600 people use the scheme at a cost of &euro;993m. The review predicts that numbers will increase by 1,126 over the next three years at a cost of &euro;49m to the State.</p>
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	The scheme requires people to contribute 80% of their income and 7.5% of the value of their family home annually for up to three years. An assessment of someone&rsquo;s assets can be postponed until after an applicant&rsquo;s death.</p>
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	The report makes recommendations on how to increase the amounts people pay into the scheme, amid concerns that the wealth of residents is being underestimated or undervalued.</p>
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	While 54% of applicants were assessed as owning a home, the report says this figure for elderly people is far greater among the general population.</p>
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	The report considers ways that people are getting around valuation rules for homes.</p>
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	It suggests &ldquo;robust initial financial assessments&rdquo; should be applied to home applicants. Furthermore, health authorities should &ldquo;rigorously&rdquo; follow up by seeking a full declaration of assets following the death of a client.</p>
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	The report notes the difficulties in accurately assessing the values of properties. It suggests greater co-operation with Revenue, whose valuation bands for areas under the property tax could be used.</p>
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	HSE officials could also appoint a panel of valuers for property assessments, it says. The report points to a sample survey carried out by the HSE which showed that in the 30% of cases where a schedule of assets was available, almost a quarter of these had underdeclared cash assets.</p>
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	Random spot checks of applicants&rsquo; financial data, a greater follow up with Revenue, and amending assessments to allow for fluctuating values of homes or assets should proceed, it is suggested.</p>
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	However, the report also says that a cap should be applied on amounts taken out on assets such as farms or businesses as this affects the ability of an inheriting son or daughter to properly run a business.</p>
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	The department review notes that the average weekly cost of care in a public facility is &euro;1,390 as opposed to &euro;893 in a private home. However, this has no direct impact on a resident, as their contribution is determined according to their means.</p>
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	A more transparent explanation of charges in homes is recommended by the report and another overall review should be carried out in 18 months, it states.</p>
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	The report concludes that, given the demographic changes ahead, more State support should be provided for the Fair Deal scheme.</p>
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	Kathleen Lynch, the junior health minister who has responsibility for older people, yesterday ruled out increased contribution costs for residents. She said the Government had agreed on this.</p>
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	Age Action, a support group for the elderly, welcomed the pledge.</p>
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	However, nursing home representatives warned of the danger of &ldquo;kicking the can down the road&rdquo; to fund the sector. Tadhg Daly of Nursing Homes Ireland said: &ldquo;Further prolonging actions required will likely present crisis for older person care and for wider health services.&rdquo;</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/stricter-checks-for-fair-deal-users-343634.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/stricter-checks-for-fair-deal-users-343634.html</a></p>
