Our policy results aim to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the insights from all the project’s work research streams, to offer a coherent framework to connect quantitative resultswith actionable policy options as well as to provide a hands-on reform action plan backed by solid empirical evidence for policy makers. 

Specifically:

• Bridging the gap between research, modelling results and policy by providing actionable policy recommendations, which can be sufficiently generalized and scaled at EU level and beyond;
• Filling the gap between quantitative results and the delivery of effective policy solutions;
• Connecting the three Policy Pillars’ interfaces of the thematic framework and analysing their trade-offs and interdependencies in policy making (new and existing).

We provide three types of policy results: 

1. Weekly „Policy digests“ that are published every Friday and summarize important policy relevant findings in 1-2 pages.
2. the „Policy Brief“ summarizes the project’s set up, methodology and policy-relevant scientific results.
3. Policy recommendations are derived the Policy Dialogues following our “Policy Feedback Loop Approach” once the scientific results are stable and reliable.

Policy Digests

Starting at the end of May, we will publish  short „policy digests“ summarizing our findings in a concise format with a strong focus on their policy relevance.

Digest #1 „Preparing for Europe’s coming care wave” can be downloaded here.

Digest #2 „Healthier ageing alone will not prevent rising care demand in Europe” can be downloaded here.

Digest #3 „Rising care needs will place growing pressure on Europe’s working-age population” can be downloaded here.

Digest #4 „In a 24-hour day, more care means less time at work” can be downloaded here.

Digest #5 „The state of the care gap in Europe” can be downloaded here.

Digest #6 „The future of the care gap in Europe” can be downloaded here.

Digest #7 „How far prevention can go in reducing Europe’s care gap” can be downloaded here.

Digest #8 „Better health could curb long-term care costs” can be downloaded here.

Digest #9 „Is higher labour force participation a threat to informal care?” can be downloaded here.

Digest #10 „Do formal care subsidies replace family care?” can be downloaded here.

Digest #11 „Rethinking long-term care subsidies” can be downloaded here.

Digest #12 „Universal versus means-tested long-term care subsidies” can be downloaded here.

Policy Brief

This policy brief is the first issue of a “living document” that will document the policy-relevant results of the research project “The Care Wave And The Future Of The Baby Boomers And Their Children” (BB-Future), a European research effort to understand the size of the care wave and its ramifications for the economy and social security systems.  

This first issue will present the policy challenges that gave rise to this project, summarize its objectives and sketch how we will achieve them. Further issues of this policy brief will be added as results from the project arrive. 

Download pdf here

Policy Recommendations

At this point of the project, we can formulate preliminary and general policy recommendations as follows:

1. Recognise long-term care (LTC) as a priority. Governments should increase public spending on LTC and make LTC a central policy priority linked to broader goals, including gender equality and economic growth.
2. Expand funding mechanisms. Governments can introduce new means of financing, such as mandatory LTC insurance and pre-funding mechanisms. Most importantly, benefits should target those with the greatest needs, to promote equity and adequacy.
3. Support the workforce more. The LTC sector should be made more attractive by raising wages, improving working conditions and expanding training programmes to attract and retain workers.
4. Develop prevention strategies. EU funds could be directed to research into treatments targeting age-related diseases such as dementia. National governments could invest in public health campaigns and preventive care to reduce future demand.
5. Use the newest technologies. EU countries should invest in robotics and assistive technologies to improve productivity and to reduce physical strain on caregivers.

Detailed policy recommendations will be presented in September 2026.