Source: The Times

The cost of long-term care is expected to double over the next 20 years, meaning that many people will struggle to fund their retirement, according to a new study (Helen Nugent writes).

Nearly one in five people aged 85 and over is in a care home.

Research by Saga, the organisation for over50s, predicts that the average cost of a four-year stay in a care home will rise from £112,312 to £223,476 by 2028.

Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, said: “Long-term care can be the biggest financial burden in a person’s life but the whole issue of care is rarely considered and talked about among families until the need arises.

"However, these figures highlight the need to start thinking about it as soon as possible. Tens of thousands of people will face the problem of paying for their care each year but only one in ten will ask for help with how to pay for it."

A number of organisations, including Carers UK, Help the Aged and Counsel and Care, have called for policy changes to create a care system for older people that is better funded and easier to understand.