Most Britons do not understand the care system

The majority of people in Britain are mystified by the care system with two thirds clueless as to how much care costs, according to new research.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has released research showing 59 per cent are unaware of what care is available and 66 per cent have no idea how much it costs.

More than two thirds of people say that they are not likely to consider care decisions until they become urgent, increasing the risk of not choosing the best provision.

A quarter of adults who already use care provision say they struggled to find appropriate care and now feel they ended up with the wrong type of support.

George McNamara, head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Alzheimer’s Society, called it “shocking” that so many people feel "uninformed and unprepared for when they might need to access care".

He said: “It’s vital that people understand the system and know the options available to them and their loved ones. With one in three people over the age of 65 set to develop dementia, it’s crucial that people know how to access care that’s right for them.”