Health and Social Care

Free Personal Care for under 65s

March 29, 2019 by Isla Bisset No Comments | Category health & social care

The expansion of free personal care – which was previously only available to those aged over 65 – comes into force on Monday 1 April 2019 and is often referred to as ‘Frank’s Law’ after the former Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel. Frank was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 59 and sadly died six years later in 2014.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Ms Jeane Freeman stated, “We’ve made the necessary changes to the law, and issued clear guidance to local authorities, to clearly set out the expansion of free personal care. For the first time everyone under the aged of 65 who is assessed as requiring personal care will receive it for free.  To ensure this is delivered we’ve backed this with £30 million of new funding to local authorities across Scotland. This is a step change in the provision in personal care in Scotland and we’ll continue to work with our colleagues in councils to ensure it is delivered in full.

In the three video clips below, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport explains the key features of the extension of free personal care in conversation with Cameron Smith from the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability.

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