People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services

About this release

This monthly publication by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents the latest available weekly information on the total number of individuals waiting for an assessment for social care services, the number of people waiting for a care at home package following an assessment and the number of hours of care they are waiting for.

Main points

• The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was 6,639 on 5 May 2025. This is an increase of just under 2% from the estimated number of people waiting this time last year.
• The estimated number of people assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 2,884 on 5 May 2025. This is a decrease of 8% from the estimated number of people waiting for a care at home package this time last year.
• As at 5 May 2025, in respect of those people waiting for care at home following an assessment of their needs, the total number of hours of care that they were waiting to receive was estimated to be 26,423. This is a just under 11% decrease from the estimated number of hours at this time last year. Changes in the number of hours will reflect the variation in both the number of people waiting for a care at home package and the differing level of care packages required for each person.

This is a line chart with two lines, one showing the trend in the number of people waiting for a care at home package and the second the trend in the number of hours of care at home to be delivered. The chart presents information from 4 November 2024 to 5 May 2025. In relation to the estimated number of people waiting for a care at home package, in the time period presented there has generally been a downward trend, with some fluctuation. The estimated number of people who have been assessed and are waiting on a care at home package has decreased from an estimated 3,275 people on 4 November 2024 to an estimated 2,842 on 5 May 2025. In relation to the estimated number of hours of care at home still to be delivered there has also been a downward trend in the time period presented. The fluctuation seen during the period is more noticeable that in the number of people waiting on a care at home package. The estimated number of hours of care at home delivered decreased from 32,540 on 4 November 2024 to an estimated 25,985 on 5 May 2025. Changes in the number of hours will reflect the variation in both the number of people waiting for a care at home package and the differing level of care packages required for each person.

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Number of People assessed and waiting for a care at home package and the number of hours of care required for these care at home packages in Scotland (estimated)

Background

Local Authorities provide social care services to enable people to live independently and at home or in a homely setting in their community. This includes people who are frail, have long term conditions or disabilities. Packages of care at home can include support with personal care but also support with other tasks around the house (for example cleaning or meal preparation).

Care at Home services are planned and delivered by Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs), and are delivered through Local Authority in-house teams, independent providers, and the Third Sector. Each Partnership plans its services based on the needs of the local population and on the existing support services available in the Local Authority, such as housing services. Therefore, the services that come under the heading of Care at Home varies across the country.

Data quality

The statistics included in this publication are created from a weekly aggregate snapshot of the number of people waiting on a social care assessment, waiting on Care at Home services and the number of hours of care at home they are waiting for. Information is included in this publication from 24 October 2022. These statistics are published as management information as there is public interest in accessing these statistics.

Public Health Scotland has worked in collaboration with the Scottish Government and Local Authorities to clarify the definitions of the items in this data collection and improve the consistency of the recording. The definition changes came into effect from 15 January 2024 and as a result figures presented for some Local Authorities will differ from information presented prior to this date. For more information on the definition changes please see the definition tab of the dashboard and the metadata document.

A dashboard is provided as part of the release and presents information both at Scotland and Local Authority level. Comparison of figures between Local Authorities should be treated with caution and should be done in conjunction with the data quality notes available in the dashboard.

Please note prior to February 2024 this publication was titled Demand for Care at Home Services.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be 27 May 2025.