Number of old people forced into care homes soars

And the withdrawal of free mealsonwheels and help with washing, dressing and shopping means the trend will accelerate, says an expert report.

The projections from care industry analysts Laing and Buisson back widespread predictions that many more people will be unable to escape ending their lives in care homes.

Help the Aged spokesman Annie Stevenson said: "We and a lot of other people have been predicting this for a long time. The crisis is now upon us.

"People need to think now about how they are going to pay for help in their old age.

"Otherwise they will be living in care homes and likely to have to sell their own homes to pay the bills.' Gordon Lishman of Age Concern said: "Failure to invest in social care services is short-sighted.

"Without practical help older people can end up needing higher levels of care - including going into a care home."

The number of people living in care homes has been falling for years as councils and the NHS helped people live independent lives in their own homes.

But the report said the fall has stopped and the numbers in institutions are about to start rising again.

The new analysis found that in April this year there were 420,000 elderly or disabled people living in residential care homes - in 1993 there were 511,000.

But the report said: "In the year to April, for the first time in 14 years, no decrease was recorded in the number of older and physically disabled people living in care homes and long-stay hospitals."

It predicts that by 2017 the numbers would be back up to 444,000.

One estimate this year said that seven out of ten town halls have now withdrawn free home help from all but the most disabled and sick older people.

The number of councils restricting help went up by 15 per cent last year.

Councils are now charging up to £300 a week and more to people who need a full range of home help services.

Those who cannot cope at home on their own are likely to start to become isolated and ill and need full-time care in a residential home.

The Laing and Buisson report says nearly a third of care home residents, 115,000, pay their own bills. They often have to pay more than state-funded fellow residents because of pressure from councils on care home owners.