Long‑term care for the elderly in Cyprus is increasingly becoming not just a matter of social policy, but a question of household finances. Behind the need for an older person to remain at home, receive help with daily tasks or access basic care, there is often a family forced to organise, fund and compensate for gaps in a system that remains limited and fragmented.
According to a report by the European Social Policy Analysis Network on long‑term care in Cyprus, public spending in this sector stood at just 0.2% of GDP in 2024, compared with an EU average of 2.7%. This low level of investment leads to high private spending and a system that relies heavily on informal care. At the same time, only around 21.5% of dependent individuals aged 65 and over used long‑term care services, either at home or in residential facilities.
Allowances instead of services
The problem is not limited to care homes. The less visible aspect of the cost lies within households. Cyprus relies more on cash benefits than on organised services. In 2024, 60.6% of public spending on long‑term care was allocated to allowances, compared with 25% in the EU. At the same time, 35.2% went to home care and only 4.2% to residential care.
This means the state often provides financial support rather than comprehensive services, leaving families to arrange solutions themselves. These may include relatives providing care, hiring migrant domestic workers, employing private carers or paying out of pocket for additional services not adequately covered.
Care at home
Home care in Cyprus is largely provided by family members or migrant domestic workers. These workers are often hired for household duties but in practice also cover personal care needs. The report highlights that such services operate within a framework of limited regulation and oversight, raising concerns about quality, worker protection and the safety of elderly people.
Even formal home care services remain limited. Within the framework of the national health system, general nursing care at home may reach up to 12 visits per year per beneficiary, a level insufficient to meet long‑term care needs. As of February 2025, 17 non‑profit organisations and 205 self‑employed carers were registered with Social Welfare Services.
Gaps and regional inequalities
The situation is compounded by significant regional inequalities. In rural areas, access to formal home care is lower, with only 26% of providers in Nicosia district and 29% in Limassol district operating in rural communities. At the same time, most of the 35 adult day care centres in Cyprus are located in urban areas.
Care homes form part of the picture but are not the only solution. As of February 2025, there were 101 registered care facilities in Cyprus, including 64 private for‑profit, 34 non‑profit and three state‑run homes. While state subsidies have increased and extended eligibility to around 20,000 additional people, fees in some private facilities can reach up to €3,300 per month, making care inaccessible for many.
As a result, long‑term care in Cyprus remains largely a private matter. Not only because families bear the costs, but also because they assume the roles of coordinators, employers and caregivers. The challenge is not simply to increase allowances, but to develop more organised, accessible and regulated services so that ageing does not become an individual financial burden for each household.
