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Indicators of progress: Definitions, data, baseline and trends information

Milestone 17: Increasing the proportion of people with learning disabilities able to live at home or in a 'homely' environment

Indicators

There are 6 indicators which measure this milestone. The information is taken from a range of surveys carried out by the Information Services Division of the National Health Service and the Scottish Executive. In all cases the figures represent Scotland.

Availability of data

Data is available from 1980 and is available at Scotland and local authority level. This year, there is snapshot analysis by age and gender for residential care homes and day care centres. There is also a snapshot rural and urban analysis for these two indicators.

Negotiations are currently underway regarding the 2003 data collections for residential care homes, day care centres and home care services. For each of these surveys, from 2003 the aim is to collect more individual level data and postcode data which will allow these statistics to be produced for geographies other than Local Authority level. However these surveys are not mandatory and it may take some time before a comprehensive picture for the whole of Scotland is available.

Living in a home or homely environment

Chart 17a: The Balance of Care

Source: Information and Services Division: National Health Service for Scotland
Community Care Statistics: Scottish Executive

Chart 17a illustrates the balance of care provided for people with learning disabilities over the period 1980 to 2002. The most dramatic change is the decrease in occupied hospital beds which by 2002 has fallen to 1,221. This level is well under one fifth of the level in 1980, and nearly half of the level of baseline level of 1999.

Over the same time period there has been a noticeable increase in the number of residents in residential care homes. There were under a thousand people with learning disabilities in residential care homes in 1980 and this has risen steadily to 4,240 people in 2001. Similarly, the number of people with learning disabilities in nursing homes has increased from 508 in 1997 to 701 in 1999 (baseline), with the figure for 2001 at 817.

There has also been a substantial increase in the number of places available in Day Centres, rising from just over 5,000 places in 1980 to a high of 8,900 in 1997. Over the last 10 years the number of places in day centres has remained fairly stable averaging around 8,600.

Age and Gender analysis

Analysis by age and gender is available for those with learning disabilities in residential care homes and day care centres. Tables 17b and 17c show of those in residential care homes, just over half are male and 41 percent are aged between 46-64 years old. Of those with learning disabilities attending day care centres, just over 50 percent are male, and 39 percent are aged between 31-45 years old.

Table 17b : People with learning disabilities in Residential Care Homes 2001, by age and sex

Source: SEHD Community Care Statistics - R1 Census
Notes: Excludes holiday/respite care residents

Table 17c : People with learning disabilities attending Day Care Centres 2001, by age and sex

Source: SEHD Community Care Statistics - D1-B Census

Rural and urban analysis

Tables 17d and 17e provide snapshot analysis of people with learning disabilities attending residential care homes and day care centres. This rural and urban analysis is based on classification of the institution attended, rather than classification at a person level, and so is meant to provide a general picture only. From 2003, we will begin to collect information on the home postcode of the person attending the day centre as well as the postcode of the day centre itself.

The broad pattern is that nearly 70 percent of residential care homes are located in urban areas. Only 13 percent of homes are located in rural areas, and these contain 18 percent of all residential care home residents.

A similar pattern applies to day care services, with nearly 75 percent of both attendees and day care places located in the urban areas with around 10 percent of attendees and places located in rural areas.

Table 17d : People with learning disabilities in Residential Care Homes 2001, by Locality

Source: SEHD Community Care Statistics - R1 Census
Notes: (1) Includes holiday/respite care residents.

Table 17e : People with learning disabilities attending Day Care Centres 2001, by Locality

Source: SEHD Community Care Statistics - D1-B Census
Notes: (1) Attendee client groups are based on individual disabilities whereas centre client groups depend on the majority of attendees

Direct Payments

Direct payments have been available to disabled people assessed as needing community care services since April 1997. Direct payments enable people to purchase care services for themselves with the aim of increasing independence and aiding social inclusion.

A new survey carried out at the end of March 2001 collected information on direct payments in Scotland. This showed that over the year 1 ^st April 2000 to 31 ^st March 2001, 32 people with learning disabilities received direct payments totalling 140,279. This information is now being collected on an annual basis.

Background data

Table17f: People with Learning Disabilities, 1980 to 2002

Source: Information and Services Division : National Health Service for Scotland
Community Care Statistics: Scottish Executive Health Department

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