WG Wellbeing & Ageing meeting - 1 and 2 December
The Working Group Wellbeing & Ageing will meet in Zagreb on 1-2 December 2026 to discuss long-term care and workforce shortages, two key challenges facing cities across Europe. Hosted by the City of Zagreb, the meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about local long-term care policies and services, exchange experiences with member cities, and visit care facilities in the city. Participants will also explore how cities can respond to care workforce shortages and share promising practices and solutions. The discussions will be particularly relevant in the context of the upcoming EU Care Deal announced by the European Commission for 2027.
Conference on Long-Term Care - 3 December
Following the Working Group meeting, members are warmly invited to attend the Conference on Long-Term Care, organised by the City of Zagreb on 3 December 2026.
Bringing together perspectives from across Europe, this one-day conference will explore what it takes to build accessible, coordinated and person-centred care and support. The conference will address Long term care (LTC) needs across different ages and life circumstances, reflecting the perspectives of beneficiaries, families and carers, service providers and public authorities.
In 2022, only 0.3% of people aged 65 and over in Croatia accessed home-based LTC services, compared with an EU average of 5.5%. Among family carers, 55% reported living with a chronic illness or disability themselves, highlighting the need for coordinated support for both beneficiaries and carers. National public expenditure on LTC amounted to around 0.95% of GDP in 2023, below the EU average of 1.7%. Against this background, discussions will explore how cities, national authorities and service providers can work together to improve access to integrated care and support and strengthen the sustainable funding of services.
The planned format combines plenary presentations and a panel discussion featuring Croatian and international speakers, alongside two focused workshops:
- Care through lived experience: beneficiaries’ perspectives, priorities and expectations, with an emphasis on dignity, choice and continuity of support.
- Making care work locally: the role of cities, counties and local partners in connecting services and translating policy into practice.
Simultaneous interpretation in Croatian and English will be available.
Members are warmly invited to bring their experience, questions and ideas to Zagreb and help shape the next steps.
Please save the date. The full programme and participation details will follow.