New research by older people’s charity Independent Age reveals that almost four in five people (78%) in England know little to nothing on how to pay for social care services.

The survey also shows less than half of respondents would feel confident arranging social care for themselves or someone they know.

Morgan Vine, head of policy and influencing for Independent Age, said: “We are calling on national government and local authorities to act now to ensure information and advice around social care is improved for everyone who needs it. The social care system desperately requires more funding, all staff who interact with people in need of care need support to have a basic understanding of how the system works, and clear and accessible information should be provided across the country.”

The YouGov poll commissioned by the charity revealed that, among those who had tried to contact someone at the council to seek advice about social care, half (50%) said they had found it difficult to reach the person they needed.

Only half (51%) of those who had sought information/advice from their local authority in the past five years felt the information they had been provided was helpful.

Fewer than one in ten (9%) recalled seeing information in their community about how the social care system works and half (50%) of respondents who have spoken to the council found it difficult to get in touch with the person they needed to talk to about their care.

As part of the recommendations, Independent Age echoed the Local Government Association’s call to invest £13 billion into adult social care. The charity has also recommended that a national Older People’s Commissioner be appointed to give older people an independent voice at the heart of government and work across all departments to ensure older people aren’t forgotten when key decisions are being made.

A government spokesperson said: “We have prioritised health and social care in the Autumn Statement, with up to £7.5 billion available over the next two years to support adult social care services and boost hospital discharge – equivalent to 200,000 additional care packages and the biggest funding increase in history.

“The government remains committed to delivering adult social care charging reform and supporting those who need it, which is why we are giving local authorities additional time to prepare and providing more funding to help with their immediate pressures.”

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “We recognise this helpful report and understand the learning that needs to be brought forward, particularly that effective and timely information and advice plays an important role for people at various points on their social care journey.

“The report rightly acknowledges the funding pressures facing social care and the reality is that these can impact on councils’ ability to fully deliver on the wide range of duties under the Care Act. A long-term funding solution for social care, as well as a plan to tackle the workforce crisis are needed to ensure social care can continually improve and best support those who draw on care.”

Chief executive of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Cathie Williams, said: “Social care has the power to transform lives. For older or disabled people, and unpaid carers, the right support can be the difference between experiencing isolation and distress, or being able to continue to work, and socialise as well as the very essentials of life such as eating and drinking, being free from abuse or neglect and maintaining important connections with people .

“We support Independent Age’s call for additional funding to be made available for adult social services, so that councils can develop better information and advice as a service in its own right, enabling all of us weigh up their options for care, support and safeguarding.”