The six month consultation will ask how the state, families and taxpayers should share the costs.

Care services minister Ivan Lewis told the BBC: "This is one of the greatest challenges facing not only Government but families and society in general.

"Together we have to decide what quality and level of care services we have a right to expect in a civilised society.

"And what we need is to move towards a system which is fairer; where people feel it's fair in terms of what is expected of them and also in terms of what the Government can pay and what is affordable."

The consultation will last six months and will include events around England to give people the chance to have their say.

State support for social care is currently means-tested but the ageing population means pressure on the system is set to increase.

The consultation process will lead to a Green Paper setting out proposals.