Care policies impact the balance of responsibilities among the family, the community, the State and the market and should seek to balance the resources allocated to each age group. Public policy impacts monetary and non-monetary transfers between generations, this is a complex aspect of the social contract for care. While there have been no substantial systemic changes, in some countries the consolidation of national systems and care service networks is making its way onto the policy agenda. In other countries the discussion centres on making care one of the pillars of social protection.