The OECD Health Division has an ongoing programme of work to support countries in developing long-term care systems that can meet the needs of their populations now and in the future.  

Key issues in long-term care policy As people get older, it becomes more likely that they will need day-to-day help with activities such as washing and dressing, or help with household activities such as cleaning and cooking. This type of support (along with some types of medical care) is what is called long-term care. Demand for long-term care is expected to rise, thanks in part to ageing populations and increasing prevalence of long-term conditions such as dementia. However, the availability and affordability of long-term care services varies dramatically between OECD countries. Public spending on long-term care ranges from more than 4% of GDP in the Netherlands to less than half a percent of GDP in countries such as Israel, Latvia and Poland (see chart below).