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Paul Lewis and a panel of guests take your calls on paying for long term care.

The rising cost of long-term care is a worry for the elderly and their immediate family. The bill for a two year stay at an average care home is at least 拢50,000.

A recent survey by the insurer Aviva suggests that half of those responded had no plans in place to meet the costs of long-term care.

Earlier this summer the Commission on Funding of Care and Support in England recommended that the bill that elderly people have to pay for care should be capped at 拢35,000. Under the current system, charges are unlimited. But the Government is still considering the issue of capping.

So what can you do now to plan for the future?
Who will pay for your care? The council, NHS or you? Will it count against you if you have savings or property?
What are the options if your care costs more than the local authority is happy to fund?
Are you confused by the charging rules?
Who regulates care provision and what can be done if you are unhappy with the care you receive?
Whatever your question, our panel of experts are here to advise you.
Jean French, Carers UK
Michael Stennett, Solicitors for the Elderly
Janet Davies, IFA and managing Director at Symposia.

Phone lines open at 1.00 pm on Wednesday afternoon and the number to call is 03700 100 444. Standard geographic charges apply. Calls from mobiles may be higher. The programme starts after the three o'clock news.