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2. Main points
Care Homes
- The number of self-funders in Care Homes receiving free personal care has increased from 7,590 in 2002-03 to 9,080 in 2005-06, an increase of 20%.
- The number of self-funders receiving free nursing care has also increased from 4,840 in 2002-03 to 5,890 in 2005-06, an increase of 22%.
- The number of long-stay residents aged 65+ in care homes has fallen slightly since free personal care was introduced. At the same time the number of self-funding residents claiming free personal care has increased. In 2002-03, 24% of long-stay residents were self-funders. This has increased to 29% in 2005-06.
Home Care
- The number of people in receipt of free personal care at home has increased from 27,340 in 2002-03 to 41,240 in 2005-06.
- These numbers rose sharply in the first year, partly due to underreporting by some local authorities while monitoring systems were put in place. They have risen by a quarter between 2003-04 and 2005-06.
- The proportion of older home care clients requiring personal care services has also increased. In 2002-03, 49% of clients received personal care services. This has increased each year to reach 72% in 2005-06.
Expenditure
- Expenditure on free personal care for care home residents was £63 million in 2003-04 (first full year of policy) rising to £69 million in 2005-06.
- Expenditure on free nursing care for care home residents was £17.5 million in 2003-04 rising to £21.5 million in 2005-06.
- All of the expenditure on care home residents is new expenditure arising as a result of the free personal care policy.
- Total expenditure on free personal and nursing care in care homes was £81 million in 2003-04 rising to £91 million in 2005-06.
- Expenditure on free personal care for home care clients was £121 million in 2003-04 (first full year of the policy) rising to £168 million in 2005-06.
- Expenditure on home care clients is not all new expenditure attributable to the free personal care policy. It is estimated that local authorities were spending at least £65 million on personal care services in 2001-02.
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