A case study of the provision of free personal care in Scotland which has implications for other parts of the UK. The study outlines current care policy for older people in the UK, and the development of free personal care in Scotland. IT the Scottish situation provides a good exemplar for social care policies elsewhere in Great Britain.
The practical problems encountered in Scotland during its introduction are assessed in detail, from the point of view of both the suppliers of care, and the older people themselves. The authors identify key threats to the sustainability of the Scottish policy and conclude by reviewing the wider lessons for the UK as a whole in designing policies to care for older people.