With an ageing population and an increase in chronic diseases, the share of the population in need of end-of-life care will continue to grow. Laying the groundwork for evidence-based policy-making, the OECD published the report “Time for Better Care at the End of Life” on the challenges involved with this development. The authors use findings from the SHARE survey to evaluate the accessibility of formal care as well as its funding, quality and compatibility with patients’ wishes wishes. Cross-country insights on the financial burden of informal care, on the healthcare inequalities by education and place of residence and on the extent of care provision are derived from SHARE data. This information from European countries is then placed in a global context. By further adjusting services to patients’ needs and deepening care coordination, the authors conclude, one could ensure more humane care at the end of life.