As a frontline leader in adult social care, I have worked across dementia services and now support individuals with learning disabilities. In both roles, I’ve witnessed how siloed systems fail people at key transition points in life—whether from child to adult services or from independence to care dependence in older age. These failures are not technical, but structural.

What’s missing is infrastructure that recognises vulnerability as a societal responsibility, not an individual misfortune. We must build integrated systems where supported housing, mental health services, flexible care, and community connection are not fragmented offerings but coordinated rights. Without this, intergenerational fairness is rhetoric without root.

From workforce planning to service design, we must think across the life course. That means supporting those who provide care with sustainable roles and training, and ensuring that systems meet evolving needs over time. A fair society doesn’t just respond to crisis—it anticipates it.

This vision echoes ideas I’ve encountered in policy work on ageing and mental health. I hope it signals the value of participation—not only as a right, but as the foundation of resilient, dignified systems. This contribution reflects my commitment to that goal.