In Greece, grandparents live with their families, they are not shoved away to sit in circles watching TV, because nobody wants to look after them. Read our posts to help our carers.
In John Robbins’ book Healthy at 100, he found a similar mindset, when he visited the longest-living cultures (Pakistan, Russia, Chile and Japan).
If someone can no longer live alone, it’s shameful, not to be chosen as the adult child to look after elderly relatives. John’s conclusion on why these four areas have such longevity, is more than good food, fresh air and faith – but that nobody feels lonely.
Greece is one of the world’s sunniest countries, and home to 6000 islands (that earn income from tourism). It’s home to many mountains, the ancient city of Greece and Santorini (above), home to beaches of different colours (white, red and black due to volcanic soil).
Some black sand and pebbles are so slippery that you may accidentally wade in and start swimming, so take great care.
The Strong Role of Family in Greece
In Greece, family bonds carry real weight. Care for older relatives is seen as a duty, but also as love returned. Many households spread care across siblings, cousins, and neighbours. The result is a low rate of institutional care by European standards. Only about 1 to 2 percent of older adults live in care homes, compared with 5 to 10 percent in much of Western Europe.
The roots run deep. Greek Orthodox values highlight respect for elders, closeness, and community. In the past, villages relied on shared labour and shared care. That habit did not vanish when people moved to cities, it adapted. Today, grandparents often help with childcare, school pick-ups, and daily cooking. In return, adult children support them with shopping, medicines, and appointments. Care moves both ways.
Consider a common scene. A grandparent lives in the flat below the family. Morning coffee is shared, someone drops by with bread, a grandchild helps set up a phone. Small, frequent contact makes formal institutional care feel unnecessary for many years. For an older person with moderate needs, the family network fills the gaps.
There are also clear emotional gains. Home life offers familiar routines, local friends, and a sense of dignity. Many older Greeks say they want to stay near their neighbourhood church, the market, or the kafeneio.
Traditions of Multi-Generational Living
Three-generation homes are common. Surveys suggest around 40 percent of older people in Greece live with family. That share is higher than in many EU countries. The set-up spreads duties, lowers costs, and keeps relatives within easy reach.
Benefits include:
- Shared responsibilities: Cooking, cleaning, and shopping are split among family.
- Practical support: Someone is nearby for medicines or appointments.
- Emotional closeness: Daily contact reduces loneliness and builds trust.
This pattern grew from rural village life, where extended families shared land and work. It has lasted in cities, helped by apartment blocks that keep relatives close in the same building or street. When families live near each other, the need for care homes drops, since help is available at short notice.
Emotional and Social Support from Family
Family support is not only physical. It offers companionship, conversation, and purpose. Studies in Greece have linked strong family ties with lower rates of depression among older adults, especially where intergenerational contact is regular. A phone call each morning, a shared lunch, and time with grandchildren can steady mood and reduce anxiety.
This model builds well-being in simple ways:
- Consistency: The same people provide care, which supports trust.
- Identity: Elders keep roles as advisers, carers, and hosts.
- Community: Regular social contact reduces isolation.
For many, this is the heart of Greek care. When companionship is part of daily life, formal residential care feels like a last resort rather than a default step.
Economic Challenges Limiting Care Homes
Culture explains a lot, but money also matters. Greece went through a deep financial crisis from 2008 to 2018, and austerity cut public spending on social services. Long-term care struggled to expand during these years. Even today, private care is costly, and public options remain limited.
Monthly fees at private facilities often sit between €2,000 and €4,000. That price is out of reach for many households. The average pension is about €800 per month, which does not cover institutional fees. Families weigh the sums and keep care at home, even when it stretches the household.
Facility numbers are modest. There are around 300 care homes nationwide for a population that includes about 2.2 million people over 65. Waiting lists can be long, and access varies by region. Islands and rural areas face the greatest gaps.
Greece also depends heavily on tourism. Investment choices tend to favour sectors that boost jobs and tax revenue quickly. In tough years, social care funding loses ground, and plans for new facilities stall.
Impact of the Economic Crisis on Social Services
Austerity hit the care system hard. During the crisis years, budgets for elderly care fell by 30 to 40 percent. Some facilities closed, others froze admissions, and many struggled with staff shortages. Urban centres like Athens still hold most services, but outlying districts have fewer beds and fewer trained carers.
On several islands, access can depend on ferry schedules and seasonal staffing. In winter, care can be thinner, and families shoulder more tasks. Such uneven access keeps the home-first model in place, not always by choice, but by necessity.
High Costs and Low Affordability for Families
The basic sums push families toward home care. Fees exceed pensions, and many households manage tight budgets.
A quick snapshot helps:
The average pension income in Greece is around 800 Euros a month, with a monthly private care home fee at 2000 to 4000 Euros. Even part-time weekly home help costs up to 500 Euros. Yet family care costs little, and is more trusted, in a country known for looking after its elderly relatives.
Siblings rotate visits, cousins cover weekends, and neighbours step in when needed. This cost-saving pattern is strong, and it keeps institutional demand low.
Government Policies, Cultural Shifts
Policy has changed slowly. EU discussions press for more structured long-term care, but national choices often reflect cultural views. Greece’s health system prioritises hospitals and acute care, not long-stay facilities. Money follows that priority.
Since 2020, there has been a rise in community day centres and home support schemes. These services give respite to families without moving elders into institutions. The country is ageing fast, with around 25 percent of the population projected to be over 65 by 2030. This shift will test the model. The challenge is to add support while respecting family care.
Current Policies and Limited Public Support
Key features of the current approach:
- Hospital focus: Funding flows to acute care, not long-term beds.
- Home care subsidies: Some support exists for carers and domestic help.
- Underfunded programmes: Waiting lists and regional gaps are common.
Public schemes often target short visits, basic nursing, or social work check-ins. They rarely cover full-time residential care. Families still provide the backbone of support, with the state in a supporting role rather than a lead role.
Looking Ahead: Possible Changes in Elderly Care
Urbanisation and smaller families will shift the balance. As adult children move for work, daily care is harder to organise. This points to modest growth in care homes and stronger home support services.
Greece could blend tradition with new models:
- Hybrid care: Short-stay respite beds, then home again with support.
- Day centres plus transport: Social contact and meals, without overnight stays.
- Carer training: Teach families safe lifting, dementia care, and medication routines.
- Local coordination: Municipal teams that link clinics, pharmacies, and social workers.
Such steps respect cultural habits while tackling practical limits. The goal is sustainability, not a wholesale shift away from family life.
