Professor John Robertson OBA
The Scottish media is awash with reports of a care home crisis as ‘elderly people struggle to access care‘ based on feeds from opposition parties.
Typical is this from the Scottish Lib Dems in The Democrat yesterday:
The crisis in social care is spiralling under the SNP after new figures revealed almost one in five care homes for adults has closed over the past decade.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Angus MacDonald has today revealed the new census figures for this section of the care sector.
West Dunbartonshire Council refuse to reveal the local figures to readers of the Dumbarton Democrat and will not tell us how many people are on the waiting list for care home places.
However, Public Health Scotland’s Care Home Census for Adults in Scotland reveals that between 31st March 2015 and 31st March 2025 there was an 18% drop in the number of care homes for adults. In the same period, the number of registered places fell by 5%.
From Care home census for adults in Scotland Statistics for 2015 to 2025, published today
- On 31 March 2025, there were 1,003 care homes for adults and 39,919 registered places – 18% and 5% less, respectively, compared with 31 March 2015.
- On 31 March 2025, there were an estimated 34,289 residents aged 18 years and over in care homes – 5% less than on 31 March 2015 (36,193).
- The estimated percentage occupancy on 31 March 2025 was 86% – the same as on 31 March 2015.
- Separate figures also show that as at 6th October, there were 11,215 people waiting on social care assessments and care at home packages- the highest number of people waiting since April 2023.
So, 5% fewer places and 5% fewer in need of a place because the demand is only for 86% of the places available, as it was exactly the same, ten years ago.
As for the final point:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Personal care. More elderly people staying in their own homes. Better and cheaper.
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