The Dutch state spends more on long-term care for the over-50s than most other European countries, particularly on care homes, according to report published on Friday by the government’s socio-cultural policy unit SCP.

Long-term care cost the Netherlands 4.8% of GDP in 2010, compared with a European average of 3.4%. The cost of care homes was 2.6% of GDP, compared with an average of 0.8%, the SCP says.

In many European countries, families take on long-term care for their senior members, which accounts for the cost difference, the SCP says.

Children in other countries also tend to live at home for longer and there is no long-term care available from the government.

The Dutch government is in the process of shaking up long-term care services to encourage people to stay living independently for longer. It is introducing tougher new checks for people who want to move into a pensioners’ home and says family and friends should shoulder more of the burden.