Personal and nursing care

Overview How to get personal and nursing care Private personal and nursing care Costs Further information

Costs

Personal care provided by your local council is free if you have been assessed as requiring it by your local authority’s social work department. You’ll get this regardless of age, income, capital assets, marital or civil partnership status.

If the care you’re assessed as needing doesn’t fall into the categories of personal care, you may be charged for it. This may be for things like housework, shopping and making beds.

Charges vary depending on your local council.

Nursing care from the NHS in your own home is free and should be provided by your GP surgery.

If you need personal and nursing care in a care home, you can receive a payment towards the personal and nursing care part of your fees.

Find out more about free personal and nursing care from the Scottish Government.