Britons are the least likely people in the world to think they need to save for future long-term care costs, an international survey has found.
The results typify many British attitudes to dealing with the consequences of long-term care when the need occurs and of expecting the NHS to foot the bill.
In fact, people in Thailand and China are more likely to have saved for their future care needs than those in the UK.
The Bupa Health Pulse study which surveyed more than 13,000 people in 12 countries, found less than a third (30%) of Brits think they will need to put money aside in the future to fund their care in later life, the lowest of all countries polled.
And only a third (33%) of over 65s said that they had saved money for their old age at all.
China and Thailand topped the table as the countries most likely to have saved for later life.
More than a quarter (28%) of Brits claimed they were just planning to deal with the consequences of old age when it happens, while 16% admitted they would need to sell their house to fund care in their old age.
British women (21%) are more worried about who will look after them when they get old, than men (13%).
However, in the majority of countries surveyed, women were found to be significantly less likely than men to have put money aside for old age.
Oliver Thomas, UK director of Bupa Care Homes, said: "We know that on average, someone over 65 is likely to need around £50,000 to cover care costs such as home adaptations, meals on wheels and care home fees, but one in 10 will need double that.
"Most people assume all care in old age is covered by the NHS, but it's not, so paying for care can come as a shock.
"We need to celebrate the fact that people are living longer but we'd urge people, particularly women, to talk to relatives and loved ones about saving for old age," he added.
