\n That is a 14% rise from the previous year.\n<\/p>\n
\n As of August 4th, an additional 3,264 people had been assessed but were waiting for a care package, a 2% increase from last year.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n In total, that means an estimated\u00a010,702 Scots are unable to receive the at-home care they require.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The wait for a at-home care package can be long and agonising. (Image: PA) Free personal and nursing care is available to everyone \u2014\u00a0as long as they have been\u00a0deemed eligible by their local authority.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n As such, securing a social care assessment is a key step in getting people out of hospital and back to their homes.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The report, published on Tuesday, explains: \u201cLocal Authorities provide social care services to enable people to live independently with control, freedom, choice, and dignity at home or in a homely setting in their community. This includes people who are frail, have long term conditions or disabilities.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cPackages of care at home ensures support with personal care (for example personal hygiene, continence management, simple treatments) and support with other tasks around the house (for example cleaning or meal preparation).\n<\/p>\n
\n At-home care packages, which are set up by health and social care partnerships, are delivered by council staff, independent workers, and charities.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Herald<\/a> exclusively revealed that 6,500 people were waiting for social care assessments back in March.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n Now, that number has risen to more than 7,400; an increase of 14%.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n In March, Scottish Conservative public health spokesperson Brian Whittle MSP blamed the SNP<\/a> for the social care crisis, noting: \u201cThese worsening figures are the latest in a long line of damning statistics.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThousands of Scotland\u2019s most vulnerable people have been left stranded in limbo, unable to access the support they need to live independently and with dignity.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThere is no long-term solution to delayed discharge and growing NHS waiting lists that doesn\u2019t address the crisis in social care.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Read more:\n<\/p>\n \n ‘It is apocalyptic’: Plea to Swinney as Scotland’s entire care service faces collapse<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n More than 6,500 people waiting for social care assessment in Scotland<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n FMQs Live: Swinney pushed on social care and beleaguered health minister<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n Scottish Labour<\/a> MSP Jackie Baillie added: \u201cThe SNP\u2019s failure to tackle the social care crisis has left hospitals bursting at the seams while those who could go home are left in limbo.\u201d\n<\/p>\n