HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a dementia carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A dementia care in Ireland costs €22–€40 per hour, typically around €30. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a dementia carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers dementia carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — medication Management — proper medication management is vital in dementia care.
- How does level of care required change the price?A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does caregiver's qualifications change the price?Years on the job are part of what you are paying for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location change the price?Coming to your door is a convenience you pay for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Companionship and Social Activities — companionship is crucial for individuals with dementia — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dementia carer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
THERE IS NO STATUTORY REGISTER OF HOME CARE PROVIDERS IN IRELAND YET, and that is the single most important thing to know before hiring one. HIQA has said plainly that home care and support services are not statutorily regulated. The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 passed both Houses of the Oireachtas in 2026 and amends the Health Act 2007 to create HIQA registration, a public register, an appeals process and transitional arrangements, and to make providing a home support service without registration an OFFENCE. It is not yet in force — the commencement date is not published and HIQA's national standards for home support are still in development. So in 2026 the checks below are the protection, not a register.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they hold an HSE Home Support Authorisation — the HSE's own scheme has service specifications, which is the nearest thing to an external standard today; Garda vetting for every individual carer, with dates; Employer's liability and public liability insurance, and whether carers are employees or contractors — it decides who is liable and who covers sickness; What happens when the regular carer is ill or on holiday, in writing; The care plan, in writing, and who reviews it and how often; References from two current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Garda vetting
National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016 Vetting is mandatory for work with vulnerable adults and is obtained through a relevant organisation, not by a family. Ask to see the disclosure and its date for EVERY carer who will come, not just the manager.
Ask to see the garda vetting letter itself, with its date on it — not a statement that one exists.
Insurance
Expect employer's liability and public liability, plus cover for medication handling where that is part of the care. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers dementia carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — medication Management — proper medication management is vital in dementia care.
A good answer: A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Years on the job are part of what you are paying for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Coming to your door is a convenience you pay for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Companionship and Social Activities — companionship is crucial for individuals with dementia — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dementia carer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect employer's liability and public liability, plus cover for medication handling where that is part of the care — personal Care Assistance — dementia care often includes personal care assistance, such as help with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the dementia carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — end-of-life care — support for individuals with advanced dementia, focusing on comfort and dignity during the final stages of life.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: level of care required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit
- They will not talk about it: caregiver's qualifications — years on the job are part of what you are paying for
- They will not talk about it: location — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for
- A price for the dementia carer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the dementia carer has begun
What a dementia carer costs: €22–€40 per hour
Most dementia carers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. In-home dementia support and Respite care each carry their own band. Dementia Care price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Dementia carers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstLevel of care required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit — that is what the dementia carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneCaregiver's qualifications — years on the job are part of what you are paying for — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLocation — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the individual's condition — the condition decides whether this is a touch-up or a rebuild — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the dementia carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, duration of service — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip.
- Personal Care Assistance
- Dementia care often includes personal care assistance, such as help with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
- Companionship and Social Activities
- Companionship is crucial for individuals with dementia.
- Medication Management
- Proper medication management is vital in dementia care.
- In-home dementia support
- Assisting individuals in their own homes with daily tasks, medication reminders, and companionship.
- Memory care facility services
- Specialised care provided in facilities designed specifically for individuals with dementia, focusing on safety and support.
- Cognitive stimulation activities
- Engaging clients in activities designed to stimulate memory and cognitive function.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a dementia carer: questions people ask
The cost of dementia care can vary based on factors such as the level of care required, the caregiver's qualifications, and the location. specialised care for advanced stages may also command higher rates.
The duration of dementia care services can vary widely, from a few hours a day to full-time support. Many caregivers offer flexible scheduling to meet the specific needs of the individual.
While general caregivers can provide many aspects of dementia care, specialised training is beneficial for managing complex needs. It’s advisable to seek caregivers with experience in dementia-specific care.
Many care providers offer same-day services, but availability may depend on demand and location. It's best to contact providers directly to inquire about their emergency care options.
Yes, many care agencies allow you to bundle services such as personal care, companionship, and medication management. This can often lead to a more cohesive care plan and potentially lower costs.
Out of scope services may include medical treatments, complex nursing care, or tasks that require licensed professionals, such as physical therapy. Always clarify the scope of care with your provider.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in care & support
Dementia carers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Department of Health — Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 passes both Houses
- HIQA — evidence review on homecare and home support services
- HSE — Home Support Authorisation Scheme service specifications
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — NURSING AGENCY — Standard rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only