75 percent of seniors in Europe share one wish: to live in their own homes for as long as possible. This concept — known as “Aging in Place” — is becoming the defining trend in European elderly care in 2026. From smart sensors in the living room to mobile care teams: Europe is increasingly embracing solutions that delay or even eliminate the need for nursing home admission.
The European elderly care services market is projected to grow from USD 79.3 billion in 2023 to an estimated USD 110.4 billion by 2032 — an annual growth rate of 7.76 percent. Central and Eastern European markets are developing particularly dynamically: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are recording the highest growth rates, driven by improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing awareness of care needs.
In Germany, over two-thirds of all people requiring care are looked after at home — by family members, outpatient services, or a combination of both. Only 32 percent of those over 64 with care needs live in nursing homes. Modern care concepts are responding with new models: senior flat-sharing communities, mobile care services, and age-friendly neighbourhood developments.
In 2026, intelligent health devices are becoming standard equipment in modern home care. Fall detection sensors, AI-powered vital sign monitors, automatic medication dispensers and voice-activated assistants are making aging at home safer than ever before.
In September 2024, Essence SmartCare partnered with Sweden’s Skyresponse to launch the Care@Home platform — a system already supporting over two million seniors across the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Nordic countries, and the DACH region. Telemedicine and remote monitoring complete the offering.
In Switzerland, 27.9 percent of seniors access institutional care in their last year of life — significantly more than in most countries. Yet the trend toward outpatient care is growing here too. In Austria, new subsidy programmes are expanding day care and mobile services to reduce pressure on nursing homes.
In Poland, only 3.5 percent of seniors access a nursing home in their last year of life — one of the lowest rates in Europe. Family-based home care is the norm, but professional support is increasingly sought. The Polish care market holds approximately 8 percent of the European market and continues to grow.
A notable phenomenon: transnational care agencies are increasingly placing Polish and Eastern European caregivers for 24-hour home care in Germany — a model that directly supports the aging-in-place vision.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, institutional care accounts for around 5 percent of the care market. Both countries are investing in improving outpatient care services. In Ukraine, the war has dramatically increased the need for home-based care, as many elderly people are unable to leave their homes.
Technology can make many things easier — but it cannot replace human warmth. Home care requires qualified professionals who provide not just medical attention but emotional support. This is where OPK.CARE steps in: we connect experienced care workers from Eastern Europe with facilities and families in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — so seniors can age safely and with dignity in their own homes.
Europe is shifting its focus from institutional to home-based care. Smart home technology, mobile services, and international professionals are making it possible. The future of senior care begins at the front door.
Sources: Credence Research — Europe Elderly Care Services Market, Definitive Healthcare, Expert Market Research
March 17, 2026
