Free personal and nursing care, Scotland 2015-16
Statistics release presenting client and expenditure figures for financial year 2015 to 2016 for free personal and nursing care (FPNC).
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2. People receiving Free Personal Care and Free Nursing Care
This section presents the latest available data on the number of people receiving Free Personal Care and Free Nursing Care in a Care Home and people receiving Free Personal Care at home.
2.1 Care Homes
Since 2002, information has been collected on the number of residents aged 65+ supported by local authorities in Care Homes. These residents may be mainly funded by their local authority or may be self-funders receiving the appropriate weekly payment towards their Care Home fees. All of these residents receive personal care services for free.
Figure 3: Care Home residents, 2006-07 to 2015-16
Figure 3 (above) and Table 1 show that the number of long-stay residents aged 65+ in Care Homes in Scotland has reduced slightly since the introduction of Free Personal and Nursing Care. In 2006-07 there were around 31,680 older people in Care Homes, which fell to 30,810 in 2015-16.
The number of self-funding Care Home residents who receive FPNC payments, in contrast, has risen slightly over the time period. In 2006-07 there were 9,380 self-funders receiving the FPC payment, which rose to 9,850 in 2015-16.
The proportion of long-stay residents has shown little change since 2006-07, rising slightly from 30% to 32%.
Over three-fifths (61%) of self-funding Care Home residents received the FNC payment in addition to the FPC payment in 2015-16, a figure largely stable since 2006-07. The number of self-funders (all ages) receiving Free Nursing Care has not changed significantly between 2006-07 and 2015-16.
Table 1: Care Home residents, 2006-07 to 2015-16
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of long-stay residents (aged 65+) | 31,680 | 31,730 | 31,530 | 31,470 | 31,020 | 30,750 | 30,260 | 30,800 | 30,520 | 30,810 |
| No. of self-funders (aged 65+) receiving FPC | 9,380 | 9,510 | 9,580 | 9,330 | 9,490 | 9,660 | 9,520 | 9,780 | 9,870 | 9,850 |
| No. of self-funders (all ages) receiving FNC | 6,060 | 6,130 | 6,180 | 5,960 | 6,000 | 6,050 | 6,130 | 6,030 | 6,080 | 6,050 |
| Self-funders (aged 65+) receiving FPC as % of all long-stay residents | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 31% | 31% | 31% | 32% | 32% | 32% |
| % self-funders (aged 65+) receiving FPC also receiving FNC | 65% | 64% | 65% | 64% | 63% | 63% | 64% | 62% | 62% | 61% |
Source: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring Return. Figures up to 2011-12 are yearly averages. From 2012-13, figures are based on the final quarter of the year only. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2.2 Home Care
Prior to 1st July 2002, people aged 65 and over could be charged for personal care services provided in their own home. Personal care services are now free, although individuals can still be charged for domestic services such as help with shopping or housework, subject to a financial assessment.
Figure 4: Home Care clients, 2006-07 to 2015-16
Figure 4 (above) and Table 2 show that the number of older people receiving Home Care services in Scotland decreased from 56,700 in 2006-07 to 49,430 in 2015-16. However, over the same period the number of Home Care clients receiving personal care services increased by 16% from 40,410 clients to 46,910.
The number of hours of personal care provided in Scotland increased from a weekly average of 272,900 hours in 2006-07 to 405,100 in 2015-16, a 48% increase. In line with the client figures, average weekly hours have risen slightly since last year. Overall, the average weekly hours of personal care provided per client has increased from 6.8 hours in 2006-07 to 8.6 hours in 2015-16.
Table 2: Home Care clients, 2006-07 to 2015-16
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care clients (aged 65+) | 56,700 | 55,340 | 54,720 | 53,660 | 51,730 | 51,120 | 50,370 | 50,450 | 50,160 | 49,430 |
| Home Care clients (aged 65+) receiving Personal Care | 40,410 | 42,260 | 44,200 | 46,660 | 46,950 | 47,010 | 47,170 | 47,810 | 46,750 | 46,910 |
| Average weekly hours of Personal Care at home | 272,900 | 299,400 | 333,100 | 361,700 | 371,900 | 389,000 | 400,500 | 409,500 | 401,600 | 405,100 |
| % Home Care clients (aged 65+) receiving Personal Care | 71% | 76% | 81% | 87% | 91% | 92% | 94% | 95% | 93% | 95% |
| Average weekly hours of personal care at home per person | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Source: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring Return 2004-05 to 2008-09, Home Care Census 2009-10 to 2011-12, Social Care Survey 2012-13 onwards.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
Average weekly hours (based on last week of final quarter) are rounded to the nearest 100.
In recent years there has been a shift away from long-term care provided in Care Homes and hospitals towards more care being provided in people's own homes. Figure 5 shows that at the same time there has been an increase in the proportion of clients receiving personal care services. In 2015-16, 95% of all Home Care clients received personal care services compared with 71% in 2006-07. This increase is associated with the following National indicators:
- Improve support for people with care needs
- Increase the percentage of people aged 65 and over with high levels of care needs who are cared for at home
Home Care statistics are now published as part of the Social Care Survey. The latest figures, for 2015-16, are available from: http://www.gov.scot/publications/social-care-services-scotland-2016/
Figure 5: Change in proportion of all Home Care clients aged 65+ receiving personal care, 2006-07 to 2015-16
Contact
Email: Steven Gillespie, SWStat@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000 – Central Enquiry Unit
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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