If you need care or support at home
If you need care at home, or need to move into a care home, the social work team at the council must help you. What you want to happen should always be listened to. If you want help dealing with the council, or getting your needs met, you can get support and specialist advice.
Getting a needs assessment
This is sometimes called a community care assessment. It will not cost you anything. To have your care needs assessed contact the council’s social work team.
Anyone can ask for an assessment. You might need one if:
you’re disabled
you’re an older person
you have a learning disability
you have a long-term health condition
you have a mental illness
you’re dependant on drugs or alcohol
If you look after someone you can have your needs assessed as a carer as well.
After your assessment you’ll be given a care plan which shows what tasks help you need with.
Get specialist advice on getting care needs assessed from Care Information Scotland. You can also call them on Freephone 0800 011 3200, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Paying for care
You will not have to pay for:
your needs assessment
equipment given to you by the NHS
services provided to you by the NHS
You’ll be expected to pay towards any care you receive from social work, sometimes called social care or social services. Your finances will be looked at to see how much you need to contribute to any costs. Social work will look at things like:
your income from work or pensions
if you own any property
your savings
Before you agree to anything, social work must tell you how much you have to pay. Ask the council to review the charges if you think they’re unreasonable.
Getting care at home
You can get help at home with things like:
equipment to help you with daily living, like a raised chair or bed, or equipment to help you get in and out of the bath
someone coming over to care for you, to allow you and your carer to have a rest from each other, called respite care
household tasks and helping you wash and dress
meals on wheels if you have difficulty cooking for yourself
housing support to help with budgeting, bills and shopping
access to lunch and social clubs
access to a day care centre
emotional support
These services can be provided by:
council’s social work team
the housing department
the NHS
charities
Moving into a care home
If you cannot get the care you need at home you can consider moving into a care home. Sometimes care homes are called nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
You can live in a care home temporarily if you need some time to get better, or you can move in permanently. Social work will help you decide what’s best for you.
Some care homes will offer personal care. This can include:
help with washing, bathing and showering
help to manage going to the toilet
help to take medication
You’ll need a care home which also provides nursing care if:
you’re very frail
you cannot get out of bed because of sickness or old age
you have a medical condition that needs regular attention from a doctor or a nurse
You should be allowed to decide which care home you move into as long as it's suitable for you and meets social work’s requirements. You can search for care homes on the EAC housing care website.
Getting advice
For advice on getting your needs met, or those of someone you look after, get in touch with specialist services:
for elderly care, contact Age Scotland on Freephone 0800 12 44 222 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
get in touch with Contact - for families with disabled children on Freephone 0808 808 3555 Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm
for support with your rights if you're disabled, contact Disability Information Scotland, on 0300 323 9961 Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
Last updated: 19 January 2023
Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.
This content applies to Scotland only.