Spending on care for people aged 65 and over has fallen by a fifth in England over the last 10 years, an analysis by the BBC shows.

The research – based on official data – showed £1,188 was being spent in 2003-4 per person over the age of 65.

By 2013-14 that had fallen to £951 once inflation is taken account – a drop of 20% – prompting experts to warn that vulnerable people were being failed.

Other parts of the UK are also struggling to keep pace with the ageing population.

It comes as the BBC launches its Cost of Care project, which includes an online guide to how care works, and what it costs.

For more on this story visit the BBC website.

Leading insurance companies report that there is ‘no interest in care insurance’.

There are no plans for any insurance products to help people plan ahead for their care needs in old age, leading companies have told the BBC.

Creating such a market was one of the key aims underpinning the government’s decision to introduce a cap on care costs from next year.

Two years ago Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped the plans would “open up an enormous market”.

But 17 major companies said there was not enough interest in such policies.

Care experts said the revelation was a blow.

About 60% of people are expected to need care in their old age – with one in 10 facing costs in excess of £100,000.

For more on this care story visit the BBC website.

Care cost calculator

From 2016 changes will come into effect that will change the way that care is paid for. If you would like to find out how this might affect you or your loved ones the BBC have produced a useful calculator that will be able to tell you the true likely cost to you of your care.

To calculate the cost of care in any part of the UK visit the BBC care cost calculator here.

Or call your local Everycare office to discuss how we can help with your care needs.

Elderly people are adding to pressure on A & E units because of the continual cuts in social care funding.

Older people in England are being left “high and dry” by councils cutting back on the care they provide, Age UK says.

Research by the charity showed the numbers getting help had fallen from just over one million three years ago to 850,000 last year.  Age UK said the cuts were one of the major causes behind the growing pressures on A&E units. But councils said they had been left with little choice because they were “chronically underfunded”.

The overall cut in numbers getting help from councils represents a drop of one-fifth.

But the research – based on an analysis of official figures – also provided a detailed breakdown of which individual services had been cut.

It found between 2010-11 and 2013-14:

• The numbers getting help at home for tasks such as washing and dressing fell by a third to just over 370,000
• Day care places have dropped by two-thirds to just under 60,000
• The numbers getting meals on wheels fell to 29,500 – a decline of 64%

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said: “Our state-funded social care system is in calamitous, quite rapid decline.

For more information on this story visit the BBC website.