The Netherlands needs to hold a broad debate about how best to take care of its elderly population over the next 10 to 15 years, according to the national ombudsman for the elderly Jan Romme.

The cabinet is planning to drastically reorganise care services, restricting residential care to those in serious need of expert help and ensuring friends and family help people stay in their own homes as long as possible.

‘Let us stop using one-liners and populist slogans to show we support the elderly,’ Romme said, referring to political campaigns by 50Plus and the PVV. ‘We have to think in terms of solutions.’

A new opinion poll on Sunday by Maurice de Hond showed the older people and the low-skilled are most gloomy about their future prospects.