Is this really something new?
My husband’s grandmother lived out the last 10-15 years of her life in a Norwegian residence for the elderly in the Canary Islands, courtesy of the government. I really can’t recall, but I think she passed away in the eighties.
I recall being told that the winters were just too hard in Norway for older folks.
I know for a fact that every winter, most of the Hotels in the Canary Isles are leased to Scandinavian companies or their government for their citizens. In Majorca and the south of Spain I am sure it is much the same judging by the large Scandanavian populations in those places. Though I believe the Germans take over Majorca in teh winter.
This is great as it keeps the hotel staff employed during the winter months, together with the Spanish government subsidising flights and hotel expenses for all their retired people, anywhere in Spain or the Spanish islands.
I have been on three trips like that, to Majorca, the Canaries and the Costa Blanca. Last year they subsidised 980,000 pensioners. Far better than paying unemployment compensation. In fact the winter is the best time to go to those places as the summer tends to be too hot.