OP is miss informed.. My old man has been in a care home for the best part of a year.. even though he can't look after himself and needs full time medical care, his choice to go into a home was by choice, and therefore he has to pay. Now that his life time savings have gone, his care costs will be deducted from his estate on probate. If his estate can't cover the costs, then the state will pay. A full financial assessment was done at the time.
My nan will be in a similar sitution very soon as is 92 and in late stages of alzheimer's. If she didnt have savings and a house though would it all be funded instantly from the state? That doesnt seem right to me