The way I undertsand it, even if Mrs TTN and I both require home care paid for by the state, the bill can be deferred until we both snuff it. The state then steps in and claims the balance from the proceeds of our house sale, leaving £100k to be divvied up between our kids (3 in our case). That's more than either of us inherited from our parents, so I'm sure they'll survive. People will say that they should have the right to leave all their money to their children if they want, and of course nobody is taking that right away - just pay for your own care in old age and the state wont touch your money. But don't expect to have your cake and eat it.