PROXIMITY-CARE: Integrated Community Ageing Infrastructures for Europe’s Long-Term Care Transition to 2070

PROXIMITY-CARE is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-09) coordinated by the University of Extremadura that addresses one of Europe’s most pressing demographic challenges: the growing demand for long-term care (LTC) in the context of population ageing and workforce shortages. By 2070, the number of people requiring long-term care is expected to increase by more than 21%, while the current residential care model faces increasing financial, social and operational constraints.

The project aims to provide the scientific evidence, policy tools and practical solutions needed to support the transition from institutional care systems towards Integrated Community Ageing Infrastructures. Its innovative approach combines three complementary research scales: macro-level projections and AI-supported simulations across 15 EU Member States; meso-level comparative analysis of European welfare regimes and transition readiness; and micro-level validation through four territorial Living Labs involving more than 2,000 service users and 300 professionals.

The model tested in the Living Labs is built around four interconnected components: distributed cohousing solutions embedded within local communities, Territorial Care Cooperatives coordinating local services, trained Proximity Companions providing community-based support, and an ethical Ambient Intelligence layer using privacy-preserving AI and federated learning technologies. This approach seeks to improve quality of life, reduce care costs, strengthen local care ecosystems, and enable older adults to remain in their communities for longer.

PROXIMITY-CARE will deliver evidence-based policy recommendations, regulatory models, capacity-building programmes and a European Care Commons Network to support the long-term transformation of care systems across Europe. Through collaboration between universities, public authorities, social economy organisations and technology providers, the project aims to create scalable and transferable solutions for sustainable, person-centred long-term care.