Four out of 10 people in Britain fear they will have to sell their home to fund long-term care as they get older, but the majority of people have never discussed this with their children, a report indicated yesterday.

About 38 per cent of people aged over 55 think they will be forced to sell their property to pay for care for themselves or their partner in the future, according to law firm Dickinson Dees.

The figure rises to 44 per cent among those aged between 35 and 54, with only 11 per cent of people claiming it was not at all likely that they would have to sell up to pay for care.

But despite the high number of older people who think they will have to sell their home, 32 per cent of adults aged under 55 said that inheriting their parents’ property was important for their own financial stability during retirement.

Three-quarters of this age group have never discussed with their parents how they will meet the cost of their care as they get older, even though 29 per cent of parents aged over 60 who have not broached the subject with their children would welcome it if they raised the issue.

Deborah Jude, a partner within the wealth management practice at Dickinson Dees, said: “Families need to break the taboo of silence on infirmity and mortality that currently leads to two generations being robbed of a pleasant retirement, replacing it with the misery of a battle to meet escalating care costs.

“Plans need to be drawn up when people reach retirement, not once they are already drifting into infirmity and the risk of health problems.

“Families who do not discuss these issues and plan ahead face a potential financial disaster when homes are subsequently sold to cover care costs ­– devastating the retirement assets of both the elderly and their grown-up children, who had counted on inheriting the property for their own retirement plans.”

The research also found that 57 per cent of people thought care costs for elderly people should be paid for by the government, rather than individuals.

YouGov questioned 4,490 people between July 30 and August 2.