Fees depend on each resident’s circumstances, care needs, and funding route. This page sets out the main categories: what is covered by the nursing home fee, what is covered by the weekly service charge, and what may be charged separately.
Main nursing home fee
Rivervale is approved under the Nursing Home Support Scheme, commonly called Fair Deal. A resident may also be funded through transitional funding, private long-term care, or short-term respite.
For residents under Fair Deal, the resident pays an assessed contribution and the State pays the balance of the approved nursing home cost. More details can be found on the Fair Deal page.
The HSE publishes the current list of approved nursing homes and their maximum agreed Fair Deal prices. You can find the list under “Approved nursing homes” on the HSE’s Finding the right nursing home page.
The main nursing home fee covers the core care and accommodation package:
- bed and board
- nursing and personal care appropriate to the resident’s assessed needs
- bedding
- machine-washable laundry
- basic aids and appliances needed for daily living
Some services and items sit outside the main nursing home fee. These are either covered by the weekly service charge or charged separately where they apply.
Weekly service charge
The weekly service charge covers services and items outside the main nursing home fee that support daily occupation, recreation, and social life in the centre.
Included daily items and practical supports may include:
- daily newspapers
- toiletries
- labelling of personal clothing for external laundry
- some specialised equipment, excluding specialised beds or comfort chairs
Included activities and social supports may include:
- aromatherapy hand massage
- movement-to-music exercise class
- musical and movie afternoons
- arts and crafts
- reminiscence therapy
- bingo, quizzes, skittles, board games, card games, crosswords, jigsaws, library, magazines, radio, movies, drama club, resident committee meetings, raffles, karaoke, newsletter publications, and knitting club
- internal and external activities, including staff and transport where part of organised centre activities
- pastoral services, including Mass, rosary, Holy Communion, annual remembrance service, Easter and Christmas religious events
- birthday celebrations and in-house seasonal events with musical entertainment and refreshments
What may be charged separately
Some costs are not covered by the main nursing home fee or by the weekly service charge. This usually applies where a service is privately arranged, individually required, or not covered through a public, medical-card, or other entitlement route.
Professional or clinical services may include:
- private physiotherapy
- private occupational therapy
- private speech and language therapy
- private dietician review
- private dental, optician, or audiology assessment
- private chiropody
- private GP or out-of-hours GP review
Personal, appointment, or supplier costs may include:
- hairdressing
- dry cleaning
- incontinence wear
- specialised individual care with a care assistant or nurse
- transport for personal appointments
- escort services for appointments
- medication charges, dressings, or appliances not covered by the GMS medical card or another scheme
The exact position depends on the resident’s funding route, care needs, and available entitlements.