Until  recently, in England, anyone with assets , including their home, of  more than £23500,  received no financial  assistance for their residential care. Reforms going thru the Parliament , as recommended by the Dilnot Commission, should   raise  this with a cap  at £72000  ie  more than three times  the  current level.  Needless to say , this is good news and should help  a lot of  frail and infirm people with no one else to look after them.  <>

Modern families are getting increasingly dispersed ;  often  virtually no one is around to support a  frail and vulnerable parent or grandparent.  It would be unfair to make a sweeping remark that the 'society is becoming uncaring' , although  the overall picture  is rapidly  reaching   close to  that.  Often  residing in own homes , despite  the strong wishes of the individual, becomes impossible  -  the degree of care needed exceeds  what can possibly be provided on an intermittent   'visiting' basis.  In  such situation  residential care becomes the only safe option.  <>

The cost of private care homes stands on average at around  £28000  increasing to about £40000 in more dependant  cases. 

Many  feel  that one's  hard  earned  money , savings , property etc should be fully utilised for their care in old age, rather than for the enjoyment of their  protege, whilst their care costs are forked up by the taxpayers. <>

On the other hand , many depend on their 'inheritance' which often supplements their costs of living  and  perhaps their retirement!!   A diffficult and complex  situation; may be we all should look into our own family resources and  avoid  private residential care for our elderly.   In societies with more meagre standard of living , that is what still happens. 

The lesson from all this - CARE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE  AREA  OF  MEDICINE  AND  WE SHOULD TRY TO PREVENT THE NEED FOR SUCH CARE.