More than one in 10 older people will have to pay at least £100,000 for their care, but most are not saving to cover the cost, according to new research.
The consumer group Which? says only 12% of adults aged 55 or over said they had put aside money to pay for future care needs.
The group is calling on the Government to use the forthcoming green paper to create a social care system that 'works for consumers and helps them make positive living choices, before crisis-point'.
When asked to think about what changes people would be willing to make if their health and mobility did deteriorate, 92% said they would make adaptations to their homes to aid mobility, such as installing a stair lift or low-cost aids.
Alex Hayman of Which? said: ‘The broken social care system cannot continue to fail older people and their families in delivering high-quality, affordable care when they most need support.
‘The Government must recognise that most people won’t have made extensive plans for their care, so the system must be designed to help people get the support they need at a time of crisis and stress for themselves and their loved ones.’
In response, Cllr James Jamieson, vice chairman of the Local Government Association, said: 'Anyone may need social care and support at any stage of their lives, particularly as we grow older, but a lack of certainty of future funding of adult social care and the split of responsibilities between individuals and councils in who pays for it, is making this hard to financially plan for.'
