Although older people sometimes prefer to go into a nursing home, perhaps for companionship, for the vast majority it is a last option. Therefore it is worth having an assessment with a geriatrician before making the decision, as they may well advise that the person can stay at home with care instead of entering a nursing home. But how feasible is this home care option?

According to Eamon Timmins of Age Action, it has been Government policy since 1969 to encourage people to live at home for as long as possible. However, he believes there should be more evidence of the Government's support for this policy.

There are home help and home care packages to help bring people in carers,he says, but adds that these supports are insufficient.

According to the HSE, some €110 million has been invested in providing additional home care packages since 2005. Between January 2006 and July 2007, approximately 10,000 people have benefited from this initiative.

However, Timmins says that Age Action still encounters people in dire need of help, receiving totally inadequate levels of support.

The first port of call for older people in need of care at home should be either their public health nurse or their GP, who will hopefully arrange community care.

Tax relief is also available on the cost of employing a carer to look after an incapacitated family member (less any amount recovered from the HSE or local authority).

If a relative or close friend decides to provide the care needed by the elderly person, they may be eligible for either the carer's allowance or the carer's benefit.

However, the carer's allowance is only paid to those on very low incomes, is strictly means-tested and in any event only amounts to a maximum of €200 a week (for carers under 66 looking after one person).

People who leave their job to look after someone in need of full-time care and attention may be entitled to carer's benefit, but again this is limited to a paltry €200 a week and is only payable for two years.