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Section One: Care Homes for Older People

Table 1 - Care Homes by Sector, Places and Residents, September 2005

Table 2 - Care Homes, Places, Residents by Sector / Places per 1,000 Population, 2000 - 2005

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

In September 2005 there were 969 care homes for older people. Of these 186 were run by a Local Authority or by the NHS, 638 were privately owned and the remaining 145 were in the voluntary sector. In total, there were 91 fewer homes for older people in September 2005 than in March 2000 (when there were 1,060 such homes) and 8 fewer than in March 2005.

The 38,191 registered places in September 2005 represents 46.2 places per 1,000 population and consists of 5,741 places (15 per cent) in the Local Authority/ NHS sector, 28,034 places (73 per cent) in the private sector and 4,416 places (12 per cent) in the voluntary sector. Between March 2000 and September 2005 the total number of registered places had fallen by 936 (2.4 per

cent). In the Local Authority/ NHS sector there had been a decrease of 779 places (11.9 per cent) whilst in the private sector there had been a small increase with an additional 141 places (an increase of less than 1 per cent). Finally, in the voluntary sector there had been a decrease of 298 places (a reduction of 6.3 per cent).

During the same period, the number of residents had fallen by 686 (2 per cent) from 34,402 to 33,716.

Of the 38,191 registered places, 33,739 were occupied on census night with an additional 732 places unavailable. Unavailable places are places that are temporarily or permanently out of use, perhaps due to refurbishment or building work. The remaining 3,721 registered places were vacant on the night of the census. The occupancy rate (occupied and unavailable places as a percentage of all places) was therefore 90.3 per cent.

Table 3 - Registered Places in Care Homes for Older People, Local Authorities with the Largest Increases/Decreases

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

Table 3 shows the local authorities with the largest percentage increases and decreases in the number of registered places in care homes for older people between March 2000 and September 2005. Annex B contains details of registered places for each census between these dates for all local authorities.

The biggest percentage increase in registered places since March 2000 occurred in the Orkney Islands where the number of registered places has risen from 99 in March 2000 to 129 in September 2005 (a 30.3 per cent increase associated with a net increase of two care homes). Other local authorities to have experienced large increases in the percentage of registered places were North Lanarkshire, where an additional 390 places had been added since March 2000 (an increase of 22.8 per cent), Clackmannanshire, where there had been a 15.3 per cent increase and South Lanarkshire where the figure was 13.7 per cent.

The biggest percentage decrease in the number of registered places since March 2000 occurred in Aberdeen City. Here there had been a 16.7 per cent decrease, a reduction of 316 places. This corresponded to a net decrease of 6 homes over the same period. Other local authorities to have experienced a large decrease were Dundee City (a 14.1 per cent reduction in the number of places and a net decrease of 7 care homes), the City of Edinburgh (a 13.7 per cent reduction in places and a net decrease of 15 homes) and South Ayrshire (a 13.1 per cent fall in places and 6 fewer homes).

Overall, across Scotland there had been a 2.4 per cent reduction in the number of registered places in care homes for older people. This corresponds to a decrease of 936 places.

Registered places and Occupancy Rates in Care Homes for Older People by Local Authority: March 2003 - September 2005

Table 4 shows the number of occupied, vacant and unavailable places in care homes and the number of places registered per 1,000 population aged 65 and over by local authority. It also provides the occupancy rates for March 2003 - September 2005 by local authority. The occupancy rate is based on occupied and unavailable places as a share of total registered places. Information on unavailable places was first collected in March 2003.

An occupied place is one which currently has a resident or is committed to a resident who is temporarily absent (for example in Hospital).

Places may be unavailable for a number of reasons including redecoration, reduced staffing and building works.

Across Scotland there were 46.2 registered places in care homes for older people for every 1,000 of the population aged 65 and over. This ranged from 29.5 in East Dunbartonshire to 59.3 in South Lanarkshire.

South Lanarkshire also had the fourth lowest occupancy rate of all local authorities in Scotland. The occupancy rate in South Lanarkshire in September 2005 was 85.9 per cent. The lowest occupancy rate is in North Lanarkshire where the occupancy rate on 30 September 2005 was 81.1 per cent.

Across Scotland as a whole the occupancy rate was 90.3 per cent, up from 89.8 per cent in March 2005 and down from 92.6 per cent in March 2003. The highest occupancy rate was in Inverclyde where 96.6 per cent of places were either occupied or unavailable.

Table 4 - Occupied, Vacant and Unavailable Registered Places by Local Authority Care Homes for Older People

Care Homes for Older People: Facilities

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

Table 5: Facilities in Care Homes - September 2005

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

On census night a total of 37,460 places were either occupied or vacant across all care homes in Scotland. Of these 32,515 (87 per cent) were in single bedrooms, 4,612 (12 per cent) were in double bedrooms and 333 (around 1 per cent) were in bedrooms with 3 or more places. Since March 2003 there has been a small increase in the proportion of places in single bedrooms (up from 83 per cent) and a corresponding reduction in the percentage in double bedrooms (down from 16 per cent). Annex C provides the percentage of available places in single rooms for the Local Authority/ NHS sector and the private/voluntary sector for each local authority.

In the Local Authority/ NHS sector 5,354 of the 5,553 available places (96 per cent) were in single rooms. In 16 of the local authorities 100 per cent of the available places were in single rooms and in all but 2 of the local authorities more than 90 per cent of places were in single rooms.

In the private/voluntary sector 85 per cent of the available places were in single rooms. This included all available places (100 per cent) in Shetland Isles. More than three quarters (75 per cent) of all places were located in single rooms in all but 3 of the 32 local authority areas.

Table 6: Ensuite Facilities in Care Homes March 2003 - September 2005

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

As table 6 shows, en-suite facilities were available in 71 per cent of all available places (26,504 places). The proportion of available registered care home places with en-suite facilities has risen from 67 per cent on 31 March 2005, the number of places offering en-suite facilities having increased by 1,327 and the number of places without en-suite facilities having reduced by 1,387. Ensuite facilities were available in 74 per cent of places in single bedrooms.

Annex D shows the number and percentage of rooms with en-suite facilities split between the Local Authority/ NHS sector and Private/Voluntary homes. This shows that, across Scotland, in the Local Authority/ NHS sector 2,692 of the 5,553 available places (48 per cent) had en-suite facilities whilst 75 per cent of all private/voluntary homes had en-suite facilities.

There is also significant variation in the proportion of rooms with en-suite facilities between local authorities. In the Local Authority/ NHS sector all of the available places in Clackmannanshire, East Renfrewshire, Shetland Isles and South Lanarkshire had en-suite facilities. By comparison none of the available places in this sector in East Ayrshire, Midlothian, Renfrewshire or South Ayrshire offered en-suite facilities.

In the Private/Voluntary sector all of the available places in Clackmannanshire and the Shetland Islands had en-suite facilities whilst none of the 16 available places in Orkney Islands were en-suite. In 17 of the 32 local authorities 75 per cent or more of places in this sector had en-suite facilities.

Overall, since March 2003, the proportion of places with en-suite facilities has risen from 61 per cent.

Care Homes for Older People: Closures and New Homes

Table 7: Care Home Closures by Sector

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

Table 7 shows that 16 care homes closed between March 2005 and September 2005. The homes that closed had an average of 32.7 places compared to the average size of all open care homes on 30 September 2005 of 39.4 places. Of the 165 homes which have closed since March 2000, 107 homes (65 per cent of closed homes) operated in the private sector. Thirty-five closed homes (21 per cent of closures) were local authority run homes. The remaining 23 closures (14 per cent) operated in the voluntary sector. Annex E provides a local authority split of care home closures between March 2000 and September 2005.

Care Homes for Older People: Newly Opened Care Homes

Table 8: New Care Homes by Sector

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

Since March 2000, 74 care homes have opened in Scotland. Over 60 per cent of these (45 homes) opened in the private sector whilst 17 homes opened in the local authority sector (23 per cent) and the remaining 12 (16 per cent) were in the voluntary sector. In the 6 months prior to the most recent census night in September 2005, 8 homes opened and had an average of 45.1 places (again compared to the average size of all open care homes on 30 September 2005 of 39.4 places). Annex E provides details of new care homes which opened between March 2000 and September 2005. The information is split by local authority.

Care Home Average Gross Weekly Charge

Table 9 shows the average gross weekly charge per long stay resident in care homes for older people. The table is broken down into local authority run homes and independent run homes (private and voluntary). It gives charging information by local authority for March 2003, March 2004 and March 2005.

The average gross weekly charge per home is equal to the amount the home charges in total to all residents each week divided by the number of residents. This is before any deductions are made (such as income from local authorities for accommodation or free personal care).

The figures in the table have been weighted to reflect the capacity of care homes within each local authority. Where the average gross weekly charge is based on less than 5 homes in the independent sector no figure has been given to protect care home confidentiality.

For Scotland overall the average gross weekly charge for all care homes in March 2005 was £446. This was an increase of 5.2 per cent from the March 2004 level of £424 and of 12.3 per cent from the March 2003 level of £397. During the two year period there was a 14.5 per cent increase in the average charge of local authority run homes (£433 to £496) and a 12.3 per cent increase in the charge of private/voluntary homes (£390 to £438).

There is a large amount of variation between local authorities both on their overall average gross weekly charge and the change in charging between March 2003 and March 2005. Part of the reason for this variation will be that some homes will offer nursing care to residents while others (former residential care homes) will not. Similarly charges may vary if a room has one place registered in it as opposed to two or whether or not the room offers ensuite facilities. The gross weekly charge as it is presented does not distinguish between these factors. It represents charging information for all care homes for older people registered with the Care Commission.

The largest increase between March 2003 and March 2005 in the average gross weekly charge occurred in East Lothian (an increase of 23.8 per cent from £404 to £500). East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Eilean Siar, Highland and Midlothian also showed an increase of over 15 per cent during the 2 years.

The lowest increase occurred in East Ayrshire which had an increase in the gross weekly charge of 5.3 per cent between March 2003 and March 2005.

Over the one year period between March 2004 and March 2005 the largest increase occurred in Eilean Siar (an £80 increase from £508 to £588) and the lowest increase was in East Renfrewshire (an £8 rise from £442 to £450).

At March 2005 the average gross weekly charge in local authority run care homes ranged from £276 in South Lanarkshire to £735 in Edinburgh. Across Scotland the average charge in this sector was £496. For independent sector run care homes the charge varied from £390 in Dumfries & Galloway to £534 in Edinburgh and was £438 across Scotland as a whole.

Table 9: Average gross Weekly Charge
March 2003 - March 2005

* Where the average is based on less than five homes in the independent sector, the figure has been supressed to maintain care home confidentiality
-- This symbol indicates that There were no LA care homes in The local authority area

Table 10: Number of Admissions, Discharges and Deaths in Homes for Older People
March 2005 - September 2005

Source: SCHC1 September 2005

Admissions and Discharges.

In care homes run by local authorities or by the NHS there were a total of 5,745 admissions. These accounted for 34 per cent of all admissions (13 per cent of all long stay and 49 per cent of all short stay admissions). In the Local Authority/ NHS sector, the majority of admissions (84 per cent) were for a short stay or respite care.

In the private sector there were a total of 9,173 admissions, 5,307 (58 per cent) of which were long stay and 3,866 (42 per cent) short stay or respite. In total these represented 55 per cent of all admissions and included 77 per cent of all long stay and 39 per cent of all short stay admissions.

Admissions in the voluntary sector accounted for the remaining 11 per cent of all admissions including 9 per cent of all long stay and 12 per cent of all short stay admissions.

Between 31 March 2005 and 30 September 2005, 12,036 residents were discharged from care homes. Two thousand, two hundred and twenty four of these discharges were long stay residents and 9,812 were short stay residents. Discharges from local authority run homes accounted for 44 per cent of all discharges whilst a further 44 per cent of discharges were of residents in the private sector and 12 per cent were in the voluntary sector.

During the 6 months preceding the most recent census 4,601 care home residents died.

Of these the majority, 4,518 (98 per cent) were long stay residents and 3,621 of these were in the private sector.

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