Free Personal & Nursing Care
Free Personal and Nursing Care (FPNC) was introduced in Scotland on 1 July 2002. Prior to 1 July 2002, people could be charged for personal care services provided in their own home and many residents in Care Homes had to fully fund their care from their own income and savings.
Care at home:
- people aged 65 and over can no longer be charged for personal care services provided in their own home. They can however be charged for domestic services such as help with shopping or housework but any charge would be subject to a financial assessment.
Care Homes:
- people aged 65 or over who live in care homes and are assessed as self-funders can receive a weekly payment towards their personal care.
- people of all ages who live in care homes and are assessed as self-funders can receive a further payment if they require nursing care.
- the remainder of the care homes fees - the 'hotel' costs - they still fund themselves.
More detailed information on the policy is available from : http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/17655
The information available below is from a variety of sources to give a picture of:
- the number of people benefiting from free personal care and free nursing care in Scotland, and
- how much Local Authorities spend on personal care services.
Please note that the previously published time series for expenditure on free personal and nursing care payments for the years 2003-04 to 2008-09, has been revised following extensive work to ensure that all figures include overheads. Full details are given in the background notes within the excel spreadsheet.