COLNE care advice specialist Carepal has warned the latest government legislation is not the solution to the financial crisis caused by the UK’s ageing population.

This week the Care Bill received its second reading at Westminster and will now be considered in detail by a committee of peers.

Liz Faye, head of care services at the company of Britannic House on Albert Road, warned the law, expected to take effect in 2016, was not the end of the care cost crisis for older people and their families.

She said: “The public has been led to believe that they won’t pay more than £72,000 for their care, so they won’t have to sell the family home.

“The true meaning of this is that although you won’t have to sell your house to pay for care in your lifetime, when you have died your relatives will have to sell the home to repay the government-backed loan, plus interest.

“The £72,000 does not include any daily living costs, such as food or accommodation.

“In reality, the estimated cost for the average pensioner is more like £150,000.

“We want to dispel the myths surrounding these forthcoming changes.”