Supports available

Stroke and brain injury services

Irish Heart Foundation

Stroke Connect

The Stroke Connect Service (SCS) provides eight weeks of emotional and practical support to adults over the age of 18 who have had a stroke and been discharged home from hospital. If you are a StrokeLINK patient treated at the Mater Hospital, we highly recommend that you link in with the Irish Heart Foundation’s Stroke Connect Service for continued care into the future.

Life After Stroke support group

The Irish Heart Foundation runs the Life After Stroke Facebook support group. This is a strong online community of stroke survivors who can offer peer advice, information and support.

> Facebook group | Life After Stroke

Nurse Support Line

The Irish Heart Foundation runs the Nurse Support Line, which deals with questions or concerns about managing life after stroke. Stroke survivors or their care partners can call 01 668 5001 for advice or support. 

Carers’ Support Network Facebook group

The Irish Heart Foundation runs the Carers’ Support Network Facebook group. This is a strong community of carers who offer peer advice, information and support.

> Facebook Group | Carers’ Support Network

Headway

Headway provides services in the community for people who have an acquired brain injury, including stroke.

HSE | Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams

Some areas have Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams and it’s anticipated more will follow.  Your GP (family doctor) will know if this service is available in your area.

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABII)

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland help people with brain injury to return to leading independent lives, through their community-based rehabilitation services.

Citizens Information

Citizens Information provides information on public services and on the entitlements of citizens in Ireland.

Alcohol and drug treatment services

Drugs.ie

Drugs.ie is a website managed by the HSE’s National Social Inclusion Office. It provides information on alcohol and drug use and tips and tools on harm reduction.

Housing

Threshold

Threshold is a free service that works with renters who are experiencing housing difficulties or who are at risk of eviction. It can provide you with advice on whether your landlord is acting legally and can also advocate on your behalf.

Residential Tenancy Board

The Residential Tenancy Board (RTB) is a public body that regulates the rental sector. It provides information to both tenants and landlords and helps with solving disputes. The RTB offers a dispute resolution service for tenants and landlords and has the power to investigate landlords who engage in certain breaches of rental law.

Local authorities (county/city councils)

Ireland has 31 local authorities that are responsible for a range of services, including housing, planning and local amenities. Local authorities are the main provider of social housing.

>  gov.ie | Local authorities information

Homeless services

Dublin Region Homeless Executive

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority for homelessness in Dublin. It adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. If you are homeless in the Dublin City Council area and have never stayed in homeless accommodation before, the Central Placement Service will assess your situation and tell you about your options.

Health services

Medical card

A medical card entitles you to certain health services free of charge.

Public health nurses

Public health nurses are employed by the HSE and are based in local HSE health centres, primary care centres and the community. You may be referred to your local public health nurse on discharge from the hospital or by your GP. You or your care partner can also contact your local public health nurse through your local health centre.

> HSE | Public health nurse information

Health centres

Health centres provide a wide range of primary care and community services. There are health centres allocated to each area. Services provided can include GP services, public health nursing, community occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, chiropody, disability services, social work and child protection services, addiction services and services for older people.

> HSE | Find local health centres

Nursing Home Support Scheme

You can apply for financial support to help pay for the cost of care in a nursing home. This is given through the Nursing Home Support Scheme, also known as the Fair Deal scheme. Visit the section on the “Additional care needs” page for more information.

> Citizens Information | Fair Deal Scheme

Decision Support Service

The Decision Support Service is a new service established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. The Decision Support Service helps people who need support to make certain decisions. This includes people who would like to plan ahead for the future. Decision support arrangements are legally recognised arrangements for people who need support to make certain decisions.

HIQA

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent authority that exists to improve health and social care services for people in Ireland. HIQA conducts inspections on hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare providers and publishes inspection reports.

Drugs Payment Scheme

Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, you and your family only have to pay a maximum of €80 a month for approved prescribed medications and certain appliances.

HSE information line

Safeguarding and protection teams

If you are a victim of abuse, are concerned about abuse or suspect someone you know may be a victim of abuse, you should contact the HSE safeguarding service through your GP, public health nurse, local health centre, any local safety and protection team or An Garda Síochána.

Tusla Child and Family Agency

Tusla is the dedicated state agency responsible for the welfare and protection of children. If you need to report a concern about a child/young person or wish to report retrospective abuse, you should contact a duty social worker. You should always inform Tusla if you have reasonable grounds for concern that a child may have been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected.

You can report your concern in person, by telephone or in writing to the local social work duty service in the area where the child lives.

Community services

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a service that delivers meals to your home either Monday to Friday or Monday to Sunday. It is usually based locally and costs may differ. 

Seniors Alert Scheme

The Seniors Alert Scheme is a service that provides funding to those over 65 for a personal monitored alarm (pendant alarm). This scheme is managed by Pobal, a not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish government.

Alone

Alone is a service that works with older people who may be experiencing loneliness, isolation, frailty, homelessness, poverty or other difficulties. It offers befriending services, phone services, housing with support, assistive technology, social prescribing and support coordination.

Friends of the Elderly

Friends of the Elderly is a voluntary service that works with older people who may be dealing with loneliness and social isolation. Friends of the Elderly provides services such as home visits, a friendly call service, social clubs and social outings. 

Age Action care and repair service

Age Action’s care and repair service does small DIY jobs free of charge for older people to help them to maintain their homes and their independence. This service operates in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The care and repair service prioritises jobs for those who are due to be discharged or who have been discharged from hospital. Jobs could include installing handrails, moving a bed downstairs or removing trip hazards.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is a charity that supports people with dementia and their carers. It provides services such as a national helpline, dementia advisers, home care services, day care services, family carer training, support groups for families, online carer support groups, Alzheimer cafés and day care at home.

Family Carers Ireland

Family Carers Ireland is a national charity that supports family carers who are caring for loved ones such as children, or adults with additional care needs. Family Carers Ireland provides free emergency care planning, counselling, specialised training and education programmes, wellbeing support, crisis management, emergency respite/respite, advocacy, peer support groups and information on rights and entitlements. 

MABS

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is a free and confidential service for those with money management and debt problems. It offers support online, over the phone or in person. MABS can help you to explore options specific to your situation. It can also help you to manage your money and stay on top of your bills. 

MABS also runs “Abhaile”, a free mortgage arrears support service. Abhaile provides financial, legal and insolvency advice. A dedicated adviser will work with you and your lender to find the best solution for your situation.

Men’s Sheds

The Men’s Sheds Association is a community-based project where men can come together to learn, share skills and make friendships. All sheds are independent and self-autonomous, and the range of activities they do can differ. Most sheds do activities such as woodworking, gardening, carpentry, community work and music.

Domestic violence services

Women’s Aid

Domestic violence and abuse happens to many women. It can affect any woman at any age and from any background. The person abusing you may be your current spouse or partner. Abuse can also continue after a relationship ends. The person abusing you could also be another member of your family.

Women’s Aid provides a range of services, including telephone support, one-to-one support, court support and court accompaniment services and maternity outreach. It can also provide advice on women’s refuge services.

Men’s Aid

Men’s Aid is Ireland’s national dedicated domestic abuse support service for men, as well as their children and families, who are experiencing domestic violence including coercive control. Men’s Aid supports those victims who, from a gender perspective, primarily identify as male, including non-binary, intersex and transgender men. Men’s Aid provides a range of services, including telephone support, one-to-one support, court support and court accompaniment services and counselling services. 

Social Welfare

Other information

Related pages