News

The number of older people in residential care has dropped according to the latest statistical report of the Scottish executive.

Since 1990, the number of older people in residential care has steadily decreased and last year, compared with 1999, the number fell again by 3.2 per cent.

A similar trend has emerged for nursing homes, but is less marked with a decrease of only 1.4 per cent on the previous year while those in long term geriatric beds has more than halved between 1990 and 2000.

By contrast, the number of special needs housing dwellings has more than doubled in the last decade, and increased by 1.5 per cent between 1999 and 2000.

Health minister Susan Deacon argued that the reduction in residential care occupancy was a positive sign of more people opting to be cared for in their own homes. She said: "It reflects the preference by the vast majority of older people who want to maintain their independence and remain close to their families."

But the statistics were raising some concerns among campaigning groups. Jess Barrow, housing and policy manager at Age Concern Scotland, said: "Not only is the number of people in residential homes declining, but the number of people receiving home care has also declined we suspect because of funding restrictions and increasing reliance on private provision."

The report found that 291,500 people, 6 per cent of Scotland’s population, require regular help or care from a carer.

Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000 at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00104-00.asp