| Description | 2005 Home Care Services, Scotland. Published on the 30th November 2005. |
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| ISBN | (Web Only) |
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| Official Print Publication Date | |
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| Website Publication Date | November 30, 2005 |
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A SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICS PUBLICATION
ISBN 0 7559 2850 4 (Web only publication)
This document is also available in pdf format (328k)
Introduction
The purpose of this Statistics Release is to present the latest national figures for home care services provided or purchased by local authorities in Scotland. All local authorities in Scotland provide Home Care services which give people the support, practical help and personal care that they need to live as independently as possible in the community.
All figures relate to the week ending 9 April 2005 and are provisional and, as such, may be subject to change. The final figures will be published in future publications.
Main points
Comparisons with 2004 show that: -
- The number of home care clients has increased by less than 2 per cent this year. The number of hours provided to clients has increased by 8 per cent. This has resulted in the overall hours per client increasing from 7.8 in 2004 to 8.2 in 2005 ( see charts 1 and 2)
- The number of older people (aged 65 and over) receiving intensive home care (more than 10 hours per week) has increased from 16.2 clients per 1,000 population of older people in 2004 to 17.1 in 2005 ( see chart 3)
- The proportion of service provided solely by the voluntary and private sectors has continued to increase for the seventh year running. It rose from 24 per cent in 2004 to 30 per cent in 2005 ( See Chart 5).
Information collected on home care services shows that: -
- A quarter (25 per cent) of all clients received a service of 10 hours or more per week.
- Just over half of clients (51 per cent) received services on weekdays only. This is no change on 2004. 47 per cent of clients received services on weekdays and at the weekend (down from 48 per cent last year).
- 94 per cent of clients receive a service in the morning / early afternoon (between 7am and 2pm).
Chart 1: Home Care Clients and Hours Provided, 1998- 2005

The groups of people who used home care services in 2005 are similar to last year: -
- 81 per cent of clients were aged 65 years and over.
- Gender splits show 70 per cent were female and 30 per cent were male
- Over four-fifths (81 per cent) of clients had physical disabilities (including frailty associated with ageing).
- Two-thirds of people using the service (66 per cent) lived alone.
Home Care Services
There was an estimated 584,160 hours of service provided to 71,094 clients in 2005. The number of clients dropped from 79,294 in 1998 to 64,546 in 2002, but has since increased to 71,094 in 2005 ( see Chart 1). Despite an initial fall in 1999, the number of client hours has increased by 46 per cent since 1998. In 1998 and 1999 clients received, on average, 5.1 hours of home care per week. This has risen steadily to 8.2 hours for 2005 ( See Annex 2 and Chart 2).
Chart 2: Average Number of Hours Provided per Client, 1998-2005

The estimated number of older people receiving intensive home care (more than 10 hours per week) has increased over the 8-year period. In 2005, 17.1 clients per 1,000 population aged 65 or over received intensive home care - compared with 16.2 in 2004 and 9.0 in 1998 ( See Annex 2).
Chart 3: Clients aged 65+ receiving 10 hours + per 1,000 population aged 65+, 1998-2005

In 2005, the data collection was refined to collect information on older people receiving 10+ hours per week. Previously these figures were estimated and all years have been revised to take into account the more accurate data.
Of the estimated 71,094 clients who received a home care service provided or purchased by a local authority in 2005, 23 per cent received at least part of their home care service from a private or voluntary provider - compared to 19 per cent in 2004. ( See Table 1 and Annex 3).
Chart 4: Number of Home Care Clients by Provider, 1998-2005

Chart 5: Hours of Home Care Service by Provider, 1998 - 2005

The average number of contact hours per client for those receiving local authority provided services only was 6.4 hours per week, compared to 14.8 hours for those receiving home care from a private or voluntary provider only (See Table 1).
Table 1: Number of Home Care Clients and Hours Provided / Purchased by Provider of Service, 2005
Provider of Service | No. of Clients | Client Hours | Hours per Client |
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Solely from local authority | 54,935 | 350,682 | 6.4 |
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Solely from private / voluntary sector | 11,680 | 173,330 | 14.8 |
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Combination of provision from LA and private / voluntary sector | 4,479 | 60,147 | 13.4 |
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TOTAL | 71,094 | 584,160 | 8.2 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
173,330 hours were provided to clients receiving home care services solely from the private or voluntary sector. This has increased by 33 per cent since 2004 when 130,625 hours were provided.
Additionally, 60,147 hours (10 per cent) were provided by some combination of local authority, private and voluntary provision ( See Table 1 & Chart 5).
The proportion of service provided solely by local authorities has been decreasing steadily from 89 per cent in 1998 to 60 per cent in 2005. The majority of this decrease is due to the increase in service provided or purchased solely from the voluntary and private sectors ( see Annex 5).
Profile of Clients Receiving Home Care Services
Approximately 81 per cent of clients receiving home care services provided or purchased by local authorities were people with physical disabilities (including frailty associated with ageing). An estimated 70 per cent of clients were female and 81 per cent of all clients were aged 65 years or over (See Table 2).
Table 2: Age, Client Group and Gender of Clients Receiving Home Care Services, 2005
| Client Group | Age Group | TOTAL CLIENTS |
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| 0-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ |
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People with Dementia | 223 | 392 | 1,340 | 872 | 2,827 |
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People with Mental Health Problems | 1,348 | 579 | 716 | 345 | 2,988 |
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People with Learning Disabilities | 2,266 | 289 | 258 | 67 | 2,880 |
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People with Physical Disabilities (includes frailty associated with ageing) | 6,405 | 9,331 | 22,734 | 19,082 | 57,552 |
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People with HIV or AIDS, alcohol or drug problems | 332 | 155 | 100 | 21 | 608 |
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Carers of dependent people in groups above | 114 | 48 | 42 | 15 | 219 |
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Carers/children not in groups above | 775 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 814 |
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People in other vulnerable groups | 1,748 | 394 | 596 | 468 | 3,206 |
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Male | 5,901 | 4,156 | 7,106 | 4,396 | 21,559 |
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Female | 7,310 | 7,048 | 18,691 | 16,486 | 49,535 |
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TOTAL CLIENTS | 13,211 | 11,204 | 25,797 | 20,882 | 71,094 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
Approximately 66 per cent of clients in receipt of a home care service were living alone; an additional 8 per cent were living in households where 2 or more people received the service (See Table 3).
Table 3: Living Arrangements of Clients Receiving Home Care Services, 2005
Living Arrangements | Number of clients | % |
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Living alone | 47,270 | 66 |
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Two or more clients in household | 5,463 | 8 |
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In other living arrangements | 18,361 | 26 |
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TOTAL CLIENTS | 71,094 | 100 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
Level of Home Care Services Provided
A quarter of clients of home care services received at least 10 hours of service provided or purchased by a local authority in 2005. This has increased by 1 per cent since 2004 ( See chart 6). This percentage has gradually increased over the last 8 years. The number of clients receiving less than 4 hours has decreased over the same period. This indicates a gradual shift towards a more intensive level of service.
In 2005, this information was collected separately for under 65's and 65+ age groups. 15% of under 65's received 20 hours or more home care a week compared with only 5% of over 65's.
Table 4: Number of Home Care Clients by Level of Service Received, 2005
Level of Service | Aged Under 65 | Aged 65 & Over |
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Number of Clients | % | Number of Clients | % |
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Less than 1 hour | 293 | 2 | 2,001 | 3 |
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1 hour to less than 2 hours | 1,850 | 14 | 10,160 | 18 |
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2 hours to less than 4 hours | 3,363 | 25 | 14,163 | 24 |
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4 hours to less than 6 hours | 1,792 | 14 | 7,348 | 13 |
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6 hours to less than 8 hours | 1,288 | 10 | 6,096 | 11 |
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8 hours to less than 10 hours | 730 | 6 | 3,935 | 7 |
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10 hours to less than 15 hours | 1,295 | 10 | 7,663 | 13 |
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15 hours to less than 20 hours | 635 | 5 | 3,554 | 6 |
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20 hours or more | 1,965 | 15 | 2,963 | 5 |
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TOTAL CLIENTS | 13,211 | 100 | 57,883 | 100 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
Chart 6 Level of Service 1998-2005

People aged 65 and over account for 87 per cent of people receiving less than 1 hour of home care, compared to 26 per cent of people receiving 50 hours or over and 81 per cent of all people receiving home care. (see chart 7)
Chart 7: Ratio of people aged 65 and over to people aged under 65 by level of service, 2005

Timing of Home Care Services Provided
Chart 8 and Table 5 illustrate the provision of home care services by time of day and part of week.
51 per cent of clients received a home care service on weekdays only. This figure has been decreasing since 1999 when it stood at 80 per cent ( see Annex 6). The number of clients receiving a service during both weekdays and weekends is 47 per cent, this is down from 48 per cent in 2004, but still much higher than the 1998 figure of 19 per cent. Only 2 per cent received services at the weekends only (See Chart 8).
Chart 8 Home Care by Part of Week 1998-2005

94 per cent of clients receive a service in the morning / lunchtime period, i.e. between 7am and 2pm. 24 per cent of clients receive a service in the evening, between 7pm and 10pm. Only 5 per cent of clients receive a service overnight, between 10pm and 7am.
Table 5: Provision of Home Care Service by Time of Day and Part of Week, 2005
Part of week | Morning/ Lunch 7am to 2pm | Afternoon/ Early Evening 2pm to 7pm | Evening 7pm to 10pm | Over-night 10pm to 7am | Total |
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Weekdays only | 30,516 | 6,406 | 1,179 | 243 | 33,377 |
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Weekends only | 1,218 | 654 | 163 | 19 | 1,406 |
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Weekday & Weekend | 34,898 | 18,707 | 15,785 | 3,387 | 36,311 |
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Total | 66,632 | 25,767 | 17,127 | 3,649 | 71,094 |
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Note: Totals do not equal the sum of components due to double counting across time bands.
Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
Background Information on the Collection of Home Care Services
Data was collected with respect to the week ending 9 th April 2005, although some local authorities provided information for a different week, which was thought to be more typical.
A revised home care statistical collection was introduced in 1998. Local authorities are asked to provide details of all home care services provided by their own staff, and in addition, services bought in from other local authorities, and private / voluntary organisations.
The home care statistical return was revised again in 2005. The main changes were that section 3 on staffing was removed and additional age splits for data on level of service and type of service were included.
A return was received from each local authority in Scotland. A small amount of information on the number of client/hour data had to be estimated for some local authorities. Four local authorities had difficulty in providing information on the living arrangements of the clients. Care should therefore be taken when interpreting figures in this area of provision as a small amount of data has been estimated.
Two Local Authorities counted staff hours rather than client hours where a client receives care from two workers at the same time. Care should be taken when interpreting figures from North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire as these Local Authorities are thought to overestimate the number of hours. Dundee City have improved their reporting procedures and part of the increase between 2004 and 2005 is due to better coverage.
Total hours may not add up to the sum of components due to rounding.
Unpaid carers also provide help and care for disabled and older people. Information on carers is available in 'Scottish Community Care Statistics'.
Further Information
Further details and analysis of the data presented in this Statistics Release are available on request from the address given below. The Statistics Release is available on the Internet by accessing the Scottish Executive web site ( www.scotland.gov.uk/statistics/commcare).
Information at a disaggregate local authority level showing number of clients receiving a service and number of hours service provided or purchased is shown in annex 1 to this Statistics Release.
Social Work Statistics
Room 3.WR
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Contact: Steven Gillespie
Tel: 0131 244 3777
E-mail: SWStat@scotland.gov.uk
This statistics release was published on 30 th November 2005.
ANNEX 1: Total Number of Home Care Clients and Hours of Service Provided by Local Authority, 2003-2005
Local Authority | Number of clients receiving a service | Total hours of service provided or purchased by LA |
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2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
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Aberdeen City | 2,514 | 2,904 | 2,862 | 12,426 | 17,090 | 20,002 |
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Aberdeenshire | 1,874 | 1,939 | 2,107 | 19,444 | 20,193 | 22,162 |
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Angus | 1,778 | 1,810 | 1,839 | 5,855 | 6,329 | 6,014 |
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Argyll & Bute | 965 | 1,060 | 1,078 | 7,814 | 8,527 | 7,959 |
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Clackmannanshire | 680 | 700 | 814 | 6,169 | 6,467 | 8,272 |
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Dumfries & Galloway | 2,048 | 2,050 | 2,047 | 21,443 | 27,753 | 28,105 |
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Dundee City | 1,886 | 1,870 | 2,115 | 8,610 | 9,047 | 11,691 |
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East Ayrshire | 1,444 | 1,706 | 1,750 | 11,790 | 17,021 | 19,044 |
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East Dunbartonshire | 1,029 | 1,172 | 1,128 | 5,499 | 6,185 | 5,807 |
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East Lothian | 1,128 | 1,423 | 1,553 | 7,506 | 10,904 | 15,561 |
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East Renfrewshire | 884 | 965 | 1,050 | 6,000 | 6,951 | 7,420 |
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Edinburgh, City of | 6,084 | 5,963 | 5,672 | 36,087 | 39,011 | 39,571 |
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Eilean Siar | 765 | 765 | 744 | 5,864 | 5,864 | 6,268 |
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Falkirk | 2,010 | 2,006 | 2,169 | 13,633 | 14,247 | 14,438 |
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Fife | 6,082 | 6,875 | 7,294 | 26,962 | 34,258 | 49,075 |
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Glasgow City | 9,040 | 9,102 | 9,223 | 96,206 | 84,011 | 84,611 |
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Highland, The | 3,055 | 2,957 | 2,764 | 14,750 | 15,275 | 16,113 |
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Inverclyde | 1,104 | 1,137 | 1,298 | 7,012 | 15,265 | 15,097 |
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Midlothian | 1,084 | 1,201 | 1,168 | 7,095 | 7,289 | 9,599 |
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Moray | 1,205 | 1,360 | 1,430 | 8,016 | 9,261 | 10,572 |
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North Ayrshire | 1,491 | 1,692 | 1,503 | 12,811 | 13,106 | 11,676 |
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North Lanarkshire | 4,370 | 4,394 | 4,371 | 47,678 | 39,573 | 39,826 |
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Orkney Islands | 428 | 511 | 505 | 2,645 | 2,811 | 3,095 |
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Perth & Kinross | 1,618 | 1,559 | 1,187 | 9,039 | 10,211 | 6,932 |
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Renfrewshire | 2,169 | 1,814 | 1,947 | 17,376 | 15,609 | 16,849 |
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Scottish Borders | 1,686 | 1,724 | 1,604 | 10,985 | 11,432 | 10,755 |
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Shetland Islands | 545 | 529 | 555 | 2,793 | 2,995 | 3,117 |
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South Ayrshire | 1,471 | 1,723 | 1,735 | 17,611 | 23,494 | 25,519 |
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South Lanarkshire | 2,568 | 2,709 | 3,158 | 22,166 | 26,461 | 34,318 |
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Stirling | 848 | 982 | 944, | 7,413 | 11,990 | 11,618 |
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West Dunbartonshire | 1,834 | 2,065 | 2,108 | 13,534 | 15,941 | 14,668 |
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West Lothian | 1,579 | 1,319 | 1,372 | 8,798 | 8,812 | 8,407 |
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SCOTLAND | 67,266 | 69,986 | 71,094 | 501,030 | 543,383 | 584,160 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
ANNEX 2: Number of Home Care Clients and Hours Provided/Purchased, 1998-2005
| Year at 31 st March |
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1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
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No. of Clients | 79,294 | 74,058 | 70,210 | 65,533 | 64,546 | 67,266 | 69,986 | 71,094 |
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Client Hours | 401,227 | 375,299 | 393,071 | 394,567 | 452,758 | 501,030 | 543,383 | 584,160 |
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Hours per Client | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 8.2 |
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Clients aged 65+ receiving 10 hours+ per 1,000 population aged 65+ | 9.0 | 9.3 | 10.7 | 11.7 | 13.3 | 14.7 | 16.2 | 17.1 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
ANNEX 3: Home Care Clients by Level of Service, 1998-2005
Level of Service | Year at 31 st March |
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1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
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Less than 1 Hour | 7,568 | 7,462 | 2,908 | 3,070 | 2,267 | 2,293 | 2,881 | 2,294 |
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1 Hour to Less than 2 Hours | 18,080 | 16,077 | 14,240 | 11,867 | 11,816 | 12,526 | 11,811 | 12,010 |
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2 Hours to Less than 4 Hours | 22,273 | 20,725 | 20,836 | 18,837 | 17,634 | 17,442 | 17,672 | 17,526 |
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4 Hours to Less than 6 Hours | 12,345 | 11,255 | 11,404 | 10,017 | 9,286 | 9,074 | 9,195 | 9,140 |
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6 Hours to Less than 8 Hours | 5,460 | 5,581 | 6,214 | 6,338 | 6,214 | 6,661 | 7,079 | 7,384 |
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8 Hours to Less than 10 Hours | 4,786 | 3,841 | 4,008 | 3,626 | 3,774 | 4,081 | 4,439 | 4,665 |
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10 Hours to Less than 15 Hours | 4,857 | 5,147 | 6,082 | 6,798 | 7,393 | 7,786 | 8,377 | 8,958 |
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15 Hours to Less than 20 Hours | 2,127 | 2,169 | 2,576 | 2,781 | 3,177 | 3,565 | 4,015 | 4,189 |
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20 Hours or More | 1,798 | 1,801 | 1,942 | 2,199 | 2,985 | 3,838 | 4,517 | 4,928 |
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TOTAL CLIENTS | 79,294 | 74,058 | 70,210 | 65,533 | 64,546 | 67,266 | 69,986 | 71,094 |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
ANNEX 4: Distribution of Clients by Level of Service, 1998-2005
| Level of Service | Year at 31 st March |
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1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
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More than 10 hours | 11% | 12% | 15% | 18% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
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Between 4 and 10 hours | 28% | 28% | 31% | 30% | 30% | 29% | 30% | 30% |
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Less than 4 hours | 60% | 60% | 54% | 52% | 49% | 48% | 46% | 45% |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
ANNEX 5: Home Care Clients and Hours Provided by Provider of Service, 1998-2005
Number of Clients: | Year at 31 st March |
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1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
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Receiving Service Solely from Local Authority | 74,198 | 68,116 | 63,271 | 57,219 | 55,513 | 56,342 | 56,662 | 54,935 |
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Receiving Service Solely from Private / Voluntary Sector | 2,896 | 4,131 | 4,590 | 5,578 | 6,178 | 7,549 | 9,430 | 11,680 |
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Receiving Service from a Combination of LA and Private / Voluntary Sector | 2,200 | 1,812 | 2,349 | 2,736 | 2,855 | 3,375 | 3,894 | 4,479 |
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Distribution of Clients: |
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Receiving Service Solely from Local Authority | 94% | 92% | 90% | 87% | 86% | 84% | 81% | 77% |
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Receiving Service Solely from Private / Voluntary Sector | 4% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 13% | 16% |
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Receiving Service from a Combination of LA and Private / Voluntary Sector | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
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Number of Hours: |
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Receiving Service Solely from Local Authority | 357,675 | 322,482 | 321,775 | 306,691 | 332,996 | 344,315 | 354,613 | 350,682 |
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Receiving Service Solely from Private / Voluntary Sector | 25,364 | 30,371 | 39,713 | 55,098 | 83,372 | 110,999 | 130,625 | 173,330 |
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Receiving Service from a Combination of LA and Private / Voluntary Sector | 18,187 | 22,445 | 31,598 | 32,778 | 36,390 | 45,716 | 58,144 | 60,147 |
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Distribution of Hours: |
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Receiving Service Solely from Local Authority | 89% | 86% | 82% | 78% | 74% | 69% | 65% | 60% |
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Receiving Service Solely from Private / Voluntary Sector | 6% | 8% | 10% | 14% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 30% |
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Receiving Service from a Combination of LA and Private / Voluntary Sector | 5% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 11% | 10% |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1
ANNEX 6: Provision of Home Care Service, Clients by Part of Week, 1998-2005
Clients: | Year at 31 st March |
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1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
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Weekend and Weekday | 14,886 | 13,359 | 18,910 | 18,585 | 22,756 | 27,199 | 33,285 | 33,377 |
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Weekend Only | 3,623 | 572 | 600 | 549 | 547 | 1,309 | 710 | 1,406 |
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Weekday Only | 60,786 | 55,538 | 50,700 | 46,399 | 41,243 | 38,758 | 35,991 | 36,311 |
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Total | 79,294 | 69,469 | 70,210 | 65,533 | 64,546 | 67,266 | 69,986 | 71,094 |
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Distribution of Clients: |
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Weekend and Weekday | 19% | 19% | 27% | 28% | 35% | 40% | 48% | 47% |
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Weekend Only | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
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Weekday Only | 77% | 80% | 72% | 71% | 64% | 58% | 51% | 51% |
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Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
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Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1