Which countries are the best at caring for the elderly?

The Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway are consistently ranked as the best countries for elderly care in 2026, thanks to heavy investment in home-based and community care and strongly integrated health and social care systems. Good elderly care extends beyond healthcare outcomes to include financial security, access to support services, social inclusion, and the ability to age well at home.

According to the World Health Organisation, one in six people globally will be aged 60 or over by 2030, and that figure is set to reach 2.1 billion by 2050. Every country in the world is now planning for an older population, and how they choose to fund and deliver care varies enormously.

Key insights

• The Netherlands, Sweden and Norway consistently lead international rankings for elderly care, driven by high investment in home-based and community care rather than hospitals alone
• The UK is not among the top international performers, with the Office for National Statistics projecting that 26% of England’s population will be aged 65 or over by 2065
• High-performing countries prioritise care at home, enabling older adults to remain independent for longer
• Early planning and flexible home care models are increasingly important for UK families, given rising demand and inconsistent access to publicly funded care

What does “best at caring for the elderly” mean in 2026?

In recent international comparisons, countries are judged on more than life expectancy alone. Experts now focus on:

• Long-term care funding, including home care, residential, and nursing care
• Access to carers and support services
• Healthcare capacity and integration
• Pension security and protection from poverty
• Age-friendly living, including transport, housing, and safety

OECD data remains the most reliable way to assess this. They track both spending and real-world access to care across member countries.

Which countries consistently rank highly for elderly care?

Based on the latest OECD and international health system data, the following countries stand out.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is widely regarded as the global leader in long-term care. Among OECD countries, it spends the highest share of GDP on long-term care of any member state, with recent comparable figures putting Dutch spending at more than double the OECD average. The country places strong emphasis on home-based and community care, supporting older people early to prevent crisis admissions and unnecessary residential care. This approach closely aligns with what live-in care at home provides in the UK.

Sweden and the Nordic model

Sweden, alongside Denmark and Finland, consistently performs well through high public investment and well-developed municipal care services. Sweden spends between 3-4% of GDP on long-term care and prioritises helping people stay at home for as long as possible.

Even in these well-funded systems, intensive home care can be costly, which highlights the importance of sustainable funding models rather than universal free provision.

Norway

Norway combines high health spending with strong social welfare protections. Its care model benefits from excellent healthcare access and well-funded local services, supporting both medical needs and daily living assistance for older people.

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Switzerland

Switzerland stands out for access to care, with more than 15% of people over 65 receiving form long-term care in 2021. This is one of the highest rates among comparable countries.

Germany

Germany allocates between 2% and 2.5% of GDP to long-term care, putting it in the same band as the UK, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Japan rather than the higher-spending Nordic group. Public funding for care is delivered through a dedicated long-term care insurance scheme, one of the longest-established systems of its kind in Europe.

Canada

Canada performs well on quality of life and healthcare access for older adults. Care delivery varies by province, but Canada consistently ranks above the OECD average for health investment and outcomes in older age.

Japan

Japan is notable for its ability to support a very old population at scale. It has one of the highest numbers of hospital beds per capita and a long-established long-term care insurance system designed specifically for an ageing society.

Where does the UK sit in 2026?

The UK is not among the top international performers for elderly care, but it is far from the worst.

England’s population is ageing rapidly. According to the Office for National Statistics projections, around around 26% of England’s population will be aged 65 or over by 2065, up from around 19% today

Access to publicly funded care remains inconsistent across regions, and many families experience delays or gaps in support. Live-in care at home is increasingly relied upon to bridge the gap between NHS services and long-term needs, particularly for families coming home after a hospital stay. Modern, flexible home care models play a vital role in helping families achieve better outcomes, even when national systems are under strain.

What can UK families do to make ageing more comfortable?

International rankings are informative, but what matters most is how care works in real life for individuals and families.

Plan earlier than you think

Care arranged in a crisis is rarely ideal. Early conversations and assessments help families retain more choice and control. Our guide on when to consider live-in care sets out the signs worth watching for.

Prioritise continuity of care

Seeing the same carer consistently can significantly improve wellbeing, particularly for people living with dementia at home or anxiety. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, familiar surroundings and consistent routines can help reduce confusion and distress for people living with dementia, which is one reason one-to-one continuity at home is often preferable to rotating shifts of unfamiliar staff.

Focus on care at home where possible

Ageing at home is associated with a better quality of life and independence. It’s also what most people say they prefer. Our comparison of live-in care vs care homes sets out how the two options differ in practice.

Choose flexible care models

Families increasingly look for care that fits around their routines, rather than rigid agency schedules.

How does Hometouch support better elderly care in the UK?

Many of the strengths seen in top-performing countries can be achieved within the UK system. Continuity, personalisation and care at home are all possible here.

Hometouch offers a modern alternative to traditional care agencies. We combine the control and consistency of private care with the reassurance of professional oversight. Families choose live-in carers who match their needs and values, care is arranged directly with the same trusted professional, and we manage contracts, compliance and ongoing support.

This approach helps older people remain independent at home for longer, with care costs often comparable to residential alternatives. In our experience at Hometouch, the families who plan earliest and prioritise continuity of carer tend to have the smoothest transition to home-based support, echoing exactly what the top-performing countries in this article get right at a national level.

“My 88-year-old mother with dementia and no mobility, who needs a hoist, has been consistently well cared for by Hometouch live-in carers for at least 4 years now. My mother is content and happy being able to stay at home and being well cared for for all of her needs.”

Mandy Wilson

Frequently asked questions

Which country is best at caring for the elderly in 2026?

The Netherlands consistently leads, spending the highest share of GDP on long-term care of any OECD memeber. Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany also perform strongly. What these countries share is a commitment to supporting people to remain at home for as long as possible, rather than defaulting to residential care.

Why do Nordic countries rank so highly for elderly care?

They invest heavily in public long-term care, typically spending between 3% and 4% of GDP, and prioritise home-based care over residential provision. Health and social care services are well integrated, meaning older people receive coordinated support rather than navigating fragmented systems.

Is the UK falling behind in elderly care?

The UK faces real challenges, such as inconsistent access to publicly funded care, growing demand from an ageing population, and a gap between NHS services and long-term social care. Flexible home care models are increasingly filling that gap, and early planning makes a significant difference to the options available to families.

Is home care better than residential care for elderly people?

For most people, yes. Ageing at home is associated with better quality of life and greater independence, particularly for people living with dementia where familiar surroundings reduce disorientation and anxiety. Live-in care provides one-to-one continuity that residential settings can’t replicate. That said, residential care is more appropriate where someone requires continuous nursing care.

How can Hometouch help my family?

Hometouch is a CQC-regulated, doctor-founded provider of live-in care across the UK. Families choose their own carer from a vetted shortlist, with ongoing clinical oversight throughout. The cost of live-in care in 2026 is often comparable to a residential care home, and funding may be available depending on individual circumstances.

Does the UK spend less on elderly care than other OECD countries?

The UK spends less on long-term care as a share of GDP than the Netherlands and the Nordic countries, though it is broadly in line with other high-income nations such as Germany and France. The bigger difference is in how care is delivered: top-performing countries invest more consistently in home-based support, which is where flexible live-in care can help UK families bridge the gap.

No single country has solved elderly care, but the best-performing ones share a clear pattern: they invest early, they fund home-based support properly, and they help people stay independent for as long as possible rather than defaulting to residential care. The UK has real gaps in public provision, but the same principles apply at a family level. Planning ahead, prioritising continuity of carer, and exploring flexible home care options can make as much difference to one family’s experience as national policy makes to a country’s ranking.

Here, when you need us

Whether you’re planning ahead or looking into options now, Hometouch’s clinical team can help you understand what good care at home could look like for your family.

Speak to a care adviser – no pressure, just answers to your questions

References

• World Health Organization. Ageing and health
• OECD. Health at a Glance 2025: OECD Indicators.
• Office for National Statistics. National population projections.
• Alzheimer’s Society. Sundowning and dementia.
• Regional variation in the utilization of nursing home care in Germany. PMC