The aim of the associations is the promotion of co-operation of national association and corresponding national institutions of care for elder people as well as their representation on a European level.

The tasks of the E.D.E. include in particular:

• working in and counselling organisations and committees active in the area of the social and health care of the elderly on a European level
• counselling national associations for directors and providers of long-term care services on questions of residential and day-patient care of the elderly
• promoting the exchange of information concerning national developments in the area of social and health care of the elderly
• organising international congresses, conferences, training programmes and study trips
• initiating cross-border research projects in the area of care for the elderly
• developing standard guidelines for the professional training of directors of long-term care services and raising the qualification standards for directors of long-term care services
• improving the social status of the profession of director of long-term care services
• coordinating the aims and work of national associations
• carrying out public relations work and influencing lawmakers‘ decisions in the area of long-term care.