It *should* be and from what I have read, in Scotland definitely is. Whether
it is in Engand and Wales depends on many factors, mostly to do with
incompetent or worse councils ignoring the rules, in which case you may need
to take legal action.

AIUI the basic rule is that if the patient needs *medical* care it should be
provided free but some councils will still try and charge, for example they
will argue that a person with dementia only needs personal care.

Care is provided free for my father who is in England and has Az, but I know
someone else who was charged for even though they were in the exact same
circumstances (including the same council) with one exception, which was
that my father was 'sectioned'.