This has become a bit of an issue over the last couple of years, it would be worth reaching out to someone like Age Action to see if they can advise what nursing homes can and should be charging for. Also you should check if you pay these, do you get any tax relief on them? Nursing Homes Ireland which is an umbrella group for nursing homes states the following
EXTRACT FROM THE Deed of Agreement under the Nursing Home Support Scheme
“Long-term Residential Care Services” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Act and shall, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, include:
o Bed and board;
o Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
o Bedding;
o Laundry service; and
o Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living.
For the avoidance of doubt, Long-term Residential Care Services shall not include: inter alia
o Daily delivery of newspapers;
o Social programmes;
o All therapies;
o Incontinence wear
o Chiropody;
o Dry cleaning;
o Ophthalmic and dental services;
o Transport (including care assistant costs);
o Specialised wheelchairs; and
o Hairdressing and other similar services”