The majority of the public are still unsure on how the country's adult care system works, despite councils efforts to improve the advice available to citizens.

Research conducted by older people's charity Counsel and Care found that only 5 per cent of the 1,300 survey respondents thought the current care system was easy to navigate, while 79 per cent said too little was done to inform people of their care options and the support offered by those working in social care jobs.

The results of the survey found there was also confusion over people's entitlements to care or assessments with more than four in 10 people not realising the council offers free assessments to determine the needs of older people.

Around seven in 10 respondents believed their local council would help them if they were physically disabled, but only 53 per cent think they would receive help for mental health problems.

Just over half of participants said they would approach social services or the local authority for information on care for older people however, seven in 10 said they were more likely to use the internet. Almost two-thirds of people had not considered how they would fund their own care.

Counsel and Care policy manager Caroline Bernard said impending cuts to public spending was influencing the improvements in councils' advice services. She said they needed to use broader communication strategies rather than relying on monthly magazines.

Mark Cherton, managing director of Opportunity Links told Community Care: "This research highlights once again that, without a strategic approach to information and advice, social care costs will only increase as people lack the support to make the best choices about their care."