However, if there is any chance at all that you might need help with fees in the future, we strongly recommend that you have your care needs assessed by your local council before you make any private arrangements.

This is because a time may come when you can't afford to pay the fees yourself. If you then ask the local council to assess you, their assessment of your needs might not include paying for the home of your choice.

Your local council can also help you if you want to find out what level of care you need.

If you do decide to make your own arrangements, The Relatives and Residents Association produces a useful series of leaflets called Living in a care home. The series is a set of short guides that provide information about good, bad and indifferent practice. The guides are aimed at carers and relatives, but if you are arranging your own care. you may also find them useful. You can get a copy of the guides by calling its advice line or you can download them from its website at www.relres.org.uk

The Office of Fair Trading produces a leaflet called Fair Terms for care that provides guidance about what to expect from a contract with a care home, and what unfair terms means. You can order a copy by calling it on 0800 389 3158.

If you have some capital you may want advice on the best way of investing it to pay for care. The Help the Aged Care Fees Advice service is designed to help you plan your finances so that you can meet any future care costs. The service is provided by NHFA Ltd., a firm of Independent Financial Advisors and Care Fees specialists, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. NHFA is a member of the HSBC group.  The contact details for Help the Aged Care Fees Advice service are in the 'Useful contacts' section. You could also, of course, talk to your own solicitor or financial adviser, who has experience of providing advice about care home fees.