The population is aging in Denmark, as in many other countries, due to increasing life expectancy
and a low total fertility rate. This potentially puts the Danish welfare state under pressure. This
paper discusses the demographic and socioeconomic situation of the elderly in Denmark,
focusing on the health status and financial situation of the elderly, and the provision of long-term
care (LTC). We rely on a combination of survey data, mainly from the Survey of Health and
Retirement in Europe (SHARE), and high-quality register data covering the entire Danish
population. We find that a large fraction of the elderly is in good health, but that those in the older
age group, 85+, face considerably more functional limitations in daily living. One in three of the
elderly receives some form of long-term care, and more than half the 85+ group. The paper
further identifies a number of current challenges regarding organization of the long-term care
sector, including recruitment of personnel for health care and LTC. Finally, the paper sheds light
on the extent of informal care provided by family and friends. While informal care is offered
voluntarily and is generally unpaid, it represents a substantial opportunity cost to society.