Rocketing cost of OAPs’ free home care
THE cost of providing free personal care for the elderly in their own homes has soared by nearly two-thirds in less than a decade, sparking questions about whether the policy is still affordable.
Figures published by the Scottish Government yesterday show that the cost of providing free home care for all over-65s who need it has rocketed by 63 per cent, from £228million in 2006-07 to £371million in 2015-16.
When the cost of free personal care provided in nursing homes is included, the total bill is nearly £500million a year.
The cost is expected to continue to increase as demographic change means there will be an even higher proportion of pensioners in Scotland. Despite the rising bill, all political parties at Holyrood are firmly committed to the policy continuing – and campaigners want it to be extended to some people under the age of 65 with conditions such as dementia.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said: ‘This is one of these issues where all parties have to work together to come up with a proper funding formula that allows this policy to continue without crippling the taxpayer in the process.’ Free personal care covers services that help elderly people fulfil their everyday needs, such as hygiene, personal safety, eating and drinking. It can be provided in their own home or in residential care facilities.
Almost 78,000 people in Scotland benefited from the policy in 2015-16, with nearly 31,000 people in care homes and about 47,000 living in their own home receiving assistance.
Council umbrella group Cosla said: ‘Cosla has long said that the Scottish Government should work with us to review the resourcing and therefore sustainability of existing policies before progressing with new political commitments.’