In Scotland, adults of any age who are assessed as needing personal care can receive that care free, regardless of their income or savings. Free nursing care is also available to anyone assessed as needing it. Other services, and the accommodation costs of a care home, may be charged for.
Arrangements in England and Wales are different. Care there is means-tested, and each country has its own rules and limits. For England, see GOV.UK: charging for care and support. For Wales, see the Welsh Government: charging for social care.
Your local authority will try to establish whether you need care and if so (in Scotland) pay for help:
- to maintain your personal hygiene
- manage your continence
- assist with the preparation of food and fulfill any special dietary needs
- to maintain mobility
- with counselling and support
- to ensure medication is properly managed, and
- personal assistance to get into and out of bed, to dress, and to use medical aids and prostheses
In addition, local authorities may arrange but may charge subject to a financial assessment for help with:
- housework
- laundry
- shopping
- attendance at Day Centres
- providing pre-prepared meals (support with preparing meals is free)
Disability benefits are separate from free personal care: receiving personal care doesn’t entitle you to a benefit, and you apply for each separately. In Scotland, people over State Pension age who need help looking after themselves may be able to get Pension Age Disability Payment, which has replaced Attendance Allowance for new claims. People under State Pension age may be able to get Adult Disability Payment. mygov.scot explains which disability benefits you might get. Carers are also entitled to support.
If you need to modify your home in order to continue living independently, then your local authority will be able to provide advice and information on what support is available.
The Scottish Government has published questions and answers on free personal and nursing care. If you require help figuring out which support you are entitled to, get in touch and we will help research and signpost on your behalf.
Support towards the end of your life
You are entitled to a broad range of support, not just medical care, at the end of life.
NHS Inform explains what palliative and end of life care can include. But in our experience other support is not always as forthcoming as it should be. You should know what support you are entitled to, and that, once you are assessed re what care you need, there is a legal obligation on social services to meet your needs.
In addition to statutory care provided by the NHS and Local Authority Social Services there may also be a range of discretionary care provided by other bodies.