A report by Unión de Entidades and ACRA reveals that Catalonia has 38,335 people waiting for dependency assistance and an average processing time of 276 days. The sector calls for funding to be doubled to 2% of GDP.
Catalonia records 38,335 people pending receipt of a dependency benefit despite having a recognised degree, the highest figure in Spain and nearly triple that of Andalusia. This data comes from the Socioeconomic Study of Care for People in Situations of Dependency in Spain, prepared by Unión de Entidades with the support of ACRA (Catalan Association of Care Resources), as published by geriatricarea.com.
The average time between application and resolution stands at 276 days, a delay that affects thousands of families waiting for a residential place or financial aid. In light of this situation, ACRA points out that existing resources, such as 17,065 private residential places and 8,626 day centre places, can absorb part of the demand, but are insufficient without additional funding.
Expenditure on the System for Autonomy and Dependency Care (SAAD) in Spain represented 0.83% of GDP in 2025, while in Catalonia it was 0.68%. The OECD average is 1.80%. ACRA and the national employers' association CEAPs have been calling for years to reach 2% of GDP to match the levels of neighbouring countries.
Even with the increase in promised state funding, projections place expenditure at 1.26% of GDP in Spain and 0.88% in Catalonia in 2025, still far from the benchmark level. Therefore, the entity advocates for doubling investment in dependency.
The study also highlights the economic return: for every euro invested in dependency, 1.17 euros are generated, reinforcing the sector's role as a generator of employment and activity.
Cinta Pascual, president of ACRA, emphasises that there are tools to expedite care:
“We have tools that can provide a quicker response to people, and we must use them. PEVs allow us to mobilise existing resources while respecting a fundamental principle: that each person can decide how and where they want to be cared for.”
The Linked Economic Benefits (PEV) are the access route to assisted living with public funding for three out of ten people in Catalonia. ACRA calls for increasing their amounts to reduce waiting lists, facilitate access to a place after recognition of the degree, and promote professional care at home.
Demographic ageing exacerbates the challenge. Projections indicate that by 2050 Catalonia will have 988,435 people over 80 years old, almost double the 495,211 currently. If the current model is maintained, by 2035 an additional 81,610 places and 25,421 professionals will be needed.
ACRA outlines three priorities: more professionals, more investment, and new services. Among the measures, it highlights salary equalisation in the sector, the promotion of new places, and the evolution towards flexible service platforms. The president of ACRA concludes:
“The debate is no longer whether we will need more resources, but how we will be able to organise them. We must rethink the system before demographics force us to do so urgently. The future lies in flexible services, recognised and well-paid professionals, and a model truly centred on the needs and decisions of each person.”
The report also advocates for public-private collaboration to expand care capacity and ensure the sustainability of the system.
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