Employing a home carer for a couple of hours?

Hi
Just wondering if it possible to hire a home carer to pop into an old person mayby 2 or 3 times a week to check everything is okay with them. I don't want them calling every day for the moment 2 or 3 times a week would suffice.
Person is in the midlands and would prefer to go through the health boards if that is possible but the means test would put them out of that category but also wondering if the health board arrange carers and we could pay them? I'm just wondering if their means are greater than those allowed for a free carer can we still avail of the service and pay for it and also use it only 2 or 3 times a week for an hourly visit?

I've seen lots of franchises set up but most are based in Dublin and I would prefer dealing with the health board.

Contact your public health nurse for info on this - we wanted to arrange similiar in the past and found that some of the carers who work through the health boards are also willing to work privately part time for people.

Thanks. will do

I'll second truthseeker's suggestion - our public health nurse helped us find someone for our Mum.

The following may be of use

Carer's Allowance
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c...carers_allowance/?searchterm=Carers allowance

Payments to carers
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c.../carers/payments-to-carers/?searchterm=Carers allowance

tax allowance for employing a carer for a disabled person.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c...ng-a-home-carer/?searchterm=employing a carer
[broken link removed]

Some of the above are means tested so you may not get a whole lot of money directly, however qualifying for one grant can often ease the path for qualifying for another and opens the doors to other benefits that you may be eligible for.

Also as others mentioned get your public health nurse involved.

C