NHS reveals rising numbers of people supported to live at home

The number of people receiving residential or nursing care paid for by the council has continued to fall, while more people are being supported to live in their own homes, according to the latest NHS figures.

The Community Care Statistics 2008: Supported Residents (Adults) England, published by the NHS Information Centre, shows a 4% drop from last year in council funded residents aged over 65 to 239,100. There has been a 14% decline since 2004.

Supported at home

Conversely, the number of eligible people receiving intensive support to remain at home has risen, with two-thirds of councils having met a government target to support 34% of people at home by March 2008. 

The NHS Information Centre’s interim director of social care Robert Lake said: “The report charts the growing emphasis local authorities are placing on enabling people to remain living independently within their own home.

Falling care home numbers  

“This is shown by the falling numbers of people they are paying for to live in a residential or nursing home as well as the increase in numbers they are supporting to stay in their own home.”

Of the total number of supported residents: 62% were in independent residential homes, 27% in independent nursing homes, 9% in councils with adult social services responsibilities staffed homes and 1% in adult placements.

More information

Community Care Statistics 2008

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