The elderly are to be given help paying for residential care it has been announced, after the government sought to introduce new measures to boost the finances available to older people.

Under a new consultation document published today the government sets out how it is trying to lighten the financial burden.

It wants to help the elderly buy in care, although the government has ruled free personal care in England, even though it is already available in Scotland and Wales.

Health minister Stephen Ladyman said: "We will put people in control of their own care plan, we will help them to assess their own care needs and help them to manage the care package themselves, so they are in control of it at all times."

Mr Ladyman believes free residential care would push costs up by a factor of four, from £1.5 billion now to £8.5 billion in 2050.

Ministers say that the 1.7 million adults in England currently requiring long-term care is likely to quadruple as the UK's population develops.