UK/Scotland: Free care for elderly is more “fair”

From The Scotsman (Edinborough):

SCOTLAND’S policy of providing free personal care for the elderly has created a fairer system without undue extra public spending, according to an independent report.

Despite initial fears the policy would discourage family from helping the elderly, researchers found that free services actually enabled informal carers to continue care in the home.

Although costs have been far more than expected, this is balanced out by the fact more elderly people are able to stay at home for longer.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) study found free personal care at home and in residential nursing homes currently costs £140 million per year, but this is only 0.6 per cent of the Scottish budget. However, this will triple inside 50 years.

Detractors from the policy insisted Scotland’s ageing population meant other services would have to be cut to pay for care.