BBC News By Douglas Fraser Published A lot, according to the parties fighting the Holyrood election. The plight of people living and dying in care homes, needing home care and those who provide it have focused attention on the sector. And demographic pressures are growing. One of the answers in party manifestos is the promise of a National Care Service. What does that mean, what would it look like, what would it cost, and what are the downsides? What is the need? One in 24 Scots relied on some form of social care support and services at the start of 2018. Some 68,000 required care support at home, apart from informal, unpaid care, often by family members. Care homes housed 34,000 people.