AS A nation we are living much longer lives than our parents' generation, thanks to improvements in medical care.
While this is a cause for celebration, the increase in our "healthy" life expectancy – the age we reach without medical problems – is yet to catch up to the same level.
This means increasing numbers of people require some form of long-term care as they age and their health deteriorates. And require it for longer.
In the UK, the average life expectancy is 78 years for a man and 82 years for a woman.
However, "healthy" life expectancy is just 63 years in the UK for men, and 65 years for women.
Unfortunately, due to the difference in these expectancies, the hope of an active and independent retirement may not be a reality for many people, particularly in their later years.
If long-term care does become necessary, ensuring it can paid for in a way that lasts for the duration of that person's life becomes essential.
As you would expect, the difference in life and "health" expectancies is contributing to pressures on local authorities and unfortunately not everyone will receive financial help to pay their care fees.
Currently, anyone with assets above £23,250 including property, are responsible for their own care costs.
Due to lack of awareness, this is leaving many people with assets above this limit unknowingly facing substantial care bills for an unknown period.
Furthermore, this happens at a stressful and busy time for all concerned.
This means that people often have too little time to seek professional help to find the best way to pay for long-term care.
Yet by making time, they can help ensure that the money needed to pay for care lasts for as long as necessary, while protecting their beneficiaries' legacies.
You can access this professional information and guidance by speaking to a local financial adviser who specialises in care fees advice.