On the 28 November 2025 the Global Observatory of Long-Term Care hosted a day long event as it’s contribution to celebrating the UN’s International Day of Care and Support. The theme was Changing the Narrative on Long-Term Care. The event was organised across continents, starting in the Asia Pacific Region and traveling West, ending in Latin America.

The event was co-hosted by Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA, Australia), the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) at the London School of Economics (United Kingdom) and the Millenium Institute for Care Research (MICARE, Chile).

The day was structured around key myths around LTC that need to be “busted” to ensure that people all over the world can lives with meaning irrespective of their age, health, disabilities and support needs, and that those who provide care, paid and unpaid, enjoy decent working conditions and have the support they need. Incomplete and misleading statements about the cost and value of care, and negative beliefs linked to ageism, ableism, gender bias and other forms of stigma, are perceived to be major barriers to the development of ambitious policies to improve and strengthen Long-Term Care. During the day we worked our way through some of these negative myths and proposed alternative (and evidence supported) more constructive framing.

The event involved 48 speakers and many other people who made it possible. You are welcome to watch the videos and let us know about ideas for the 2026 celebration!

Programme:

Asia Pacific session, hosted by Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA)

Opening of the Asia Pacific session, welcome by the chair, Rebecca Bilton (ARIIA)

We are not all the same, and care should not be the same for all either: Culturally safe care 

Speakers:

Andrea Kelly, Interim First Nations Commissioner of Australia  with Jarin Ingram Baigent, CEO of Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care, a First Nations aged care provider

Faye Spiteri, OAM, CEO of Fronditha Care, a Greek aged care provider in Australia

Ikimoke Tamaki-Takarei, Tribal leader, Waikato, Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Presentation Changing the narrative of Long Term Care Australia session

Shahnaj Begum (University of Lapland): Muslim caregiving in Finland: Cultural and Religious Challenges in Elderly Care

Presentation  SBegum-Powerpoint-Muslim Caregivers in Finland

Video of the session

 

Long-Term Care is (mostly) Community Care

Speakers:

Mary Jean Loreche, Commissioner of Older People, National Commission of Senior Citizens, Philippines

Presentation share_LTC Phils_ARIIA_GOLTC

Steve Lewis, Founder of Nabu Cares, Australia

Presentation Nabu Slides for 28 11 2025-compressed (1)

Susana Harding, Director of the International Longevity Centre,  Tsao Foundation, Singapore

Presentation  LTC Community care final_GOLTCwebinar_28Nov_Harding

Enkhtsetseg Byambaa, National University of Mongolia

Presentation  Experience Mongolia

Video of the session:

Europe and beyond session, hosted by the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science

Opening of the Europe and beyond session: Adelina Comas-Herrera and Naz Salehi (CPEC, LSE)

Turning Challenges into Change: EU-Supported Pathways to Long-Term Care Reform

Speakers:

Flaviana Teodosiu (Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Social Protection team, European Commission)

Presentation  1 Flaviana

Ognian Droumev (Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Bulgaria)

Presentation  2 Ognian

Tina Lipar (Ministry of Solidarity-based Future, Slovenia)

Presentation  3 Tina

Video of the session:

It is unsustainable (not) to invest in Long-Term Care

Speakers:

Adelina Comas-Herrera (Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK)

Presentation  1 Adelina quick intro

Martin Knapp (Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK)

Presentation  2 Martin

Roberta Perna (Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Públicos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPP-CSIC), Spain)

Jeroen Spijker (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain)

Presentation  4 Jeroen

Andrea E. Schmidt (Austrian National Public Health Institute)

Presentation  5 Andrea

Nicole Sutton (UTS Business School, Australia)

Ludovico Carrino (University of Trieste)

Presentation  7 Carrino care dividend GOLTC

Video of the session:

A new approach to care: the Danish Reform of the Long-Term Care System for Older People

Mette Kierkgaard, Minister for Senior Citizens, Denmark

Video of the session:

Changing the Narrative: Human Forever, Teun Toebes

Teun Toebes (26) is a healthcare innovator and humanitarian activist. His mission is to improve the quality of life for people with dementia worldwide. To this end, he lived in the closed dementia ward for three and a half years. Because he believes that dementia is not a healthcare issue but a societal one, the internationally awarded film Human Forever chronicles his international quest for the next chapter. Teun Toebes has a strong voice on social media, speaks at international conferences and together with filmmaker Jonathan de Jong previously published the #1 global bestsellers The Housemates and Human Forever.

Video of the session:

We have opportunites to reduce, postpone and rethink the need for Long-Term Care

Speakers:

Stefania Ilinca (World Health Organization, Europe)

Presentation  1 Stefania

Ester Bertholet (Geriatric medicine specialist, founder of Ons Raadhuis and author of a guide on growing older, the Netherlands)

Presentation  2 Ester

Katsuya Iijima (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

Kai Leichsenring (European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Austria)

Presentation  4 Kai

 

Video of the session:

How we talk about care matters: addressing the traps of ageism, ableism and stigma

Speakers:

Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez (author of La Trampa de la Edad/ The Age Trap)

Tove Harnett and Håkan Jönson (Lund University, Sweden)

Presentation  2. Tove and Hakan

Karla Maria Giacomin (Cuidadosa Brazilian Care Association)

Presentation  3 Karla NEW

Christine Musyimi (Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health, Kenya)

Presentation  4. Christine

 

Video of the session:

Informal care is not free and not even cheap

Chair: Jose-Luis Fernandez (Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Poltical Centre, UK)

Speakers:

Elena Moore (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

Presentation  Care is Free and Cheap_GOLTC_Elena Moore

Jayeeta Rajagopalan (CPEC, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK)

Presentation  2. Jayeeta

Cristina Vilaplana-Prieto (University of Murcia, Spain) and Joan Costa-Font (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK)

Cassandra Simmons (World Health Organization, Europe)

Presentation  4. Cassandra

Video of the session:

Long-Term Care jobs are skilled (and cherished)  jobs

Speakers:

Kathryn Faulke (author of Every Kind of People, a journey to the Heart of Care Work, a book about her experiences as a home care worker, UK)

Monica Vazquez Rigueiro (Suara Cooperative, Spain)

Barbara da Roit (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy)

Pat Armstrong (York University, Canada)

Kezia Scales (PHI, USA)

Video of the session:

 

People can plan and prepare for when they need care (and public support helps)

Chair: Juliette Malley (Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK)

Speakers:

Tine Rostgaard (Roskilde Universitet, Denmark)

Presentation  1 Tine

Marta Pi-Martin (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain)

Presentation  2 Marta

Video of the session:

 

 

Latinamerica session, hosted by the Millenium Institute for Care Research (MICARE, Chile), in Spanish

15.00 CLST, 18.00 GMT (consulta tu hora local aquí):

Inauguración de la sesión de América Latina: Déborah Oliveira (Millenium Institute for Care Research, MICARE, Chile)

15.10 CLST, 18.10 GMT (consulta tu hora local aquí):

Sistemas de cuidado de larga duración en América Latina

Ponentes:

Aprendizajes del SNIC de Uruguay sobre cuidados de larga duración a personas mayores, Valentina Perrotta (Directora de Cuidados del Ministerio de Desarrollo Social de Uruguay)

El cuidado como derecho, Mariana Brocca (Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNICEN),Argentina)

Sistemas de cuidado y sostenibilidad: El costo de no hacer nada, Bárbara Flores (Centro de Economía y Políticas Sociales (CEAS) de la Universidad Mayor, Chile)

Este panel tiene como propósito desmontar mitos persistentes que limitan la construcción de sistemas de cuidado de larga duración en América Latina, tales como: la idea de que estos sistemas son viables únicamente en países de alto poder económico, que su implementación conlleva inevitablemente a crisis fiscales, o que garantizar el derecho al cuidado es un lujo reservado para pocos. A través del análisis de los aspectos normativos, legales y económicos, se evidenciará que la construcción de dichos sistemas no solo es posible, sino también esencial para avanzar hacia una igualdad sustantiva y un desarrollo sostenible en la región. Las ponencias presentarán marcos conceptuales y experiencias regionales que promueven una gobernanza adecuada y un diálogo social, para avanzar hacia sistemas de cuidado inclusivos, sostenibles y basados en derechos.

Video of the session:

16.00 CLST, 19.00 GMT (consulta tu hora local aquí):

Repensar los cuidados de las personas mayores desde una mirada estructural

Ponentes:

Las áreas “grises” donde se resuelven la mayoría de las necesidades de cuidado en Latinoamérica, Mariana Lopez-Ortega (Instituto Nacional de Geriatría de México).

Viejismo y capacitismo en contexto de cuidados de larga estadía, Agnieszka Bozanic (Docente investigadora de la Universidad Andrés Bello, sede Viña del Mar, Chile. Presidenta de Fundación GeroActivismo)

Aprendizaje del uso de tecnologías para las personas mayores con perspectiva de derechos, Javiera Rosell (Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile y MICARE)

 

Este panel se centrará en analizar los factores estructurales que configuran los cuidados de largo plazo en relación a las personas mayores, explorando por qué las intervenciones dirigidas exclusivamente a nivel individual resultan insuficientes. El objetivo del panel es derribar mitos y fomentar nuevas narrativas que reconozcan los determinantes sociales y sistémicos del cuidado, incluyendo aspectos relacionados con el estigma y el edadismo.

 

Video of the session:

Final del evento / End of the event

 

If you would like to be inolved in future GOLTC events, please join the Observatory: https://goltc.org/add-new-expert/

You can also contact us at ilp-network@lse.ac.uk