Americans look to the government to care for older adults with no family
Core finding
About six-in-ten adults (59.9%) say the government should primarily help an older adult who has no family. Charities and religious organizations come next at 21.1%, followed by friends and neighbors (11.9%) and private companies (7.1%).
The preference for public support extends to family caregivers. Direct payments to help with caregiving costs are the most-favored federal policy, at 46.3%.
Government is the clear first choice
Asked who should primarily help an older adult who does not have any family, 59.9% of adults say the government.
Charities, religious organizations and nonprofits come second at 21.1%, followed by friends and neighbors (11.9%) and private companies (7.1%).
Topline
59.9% say the government should primarily help an older adult who has no family; 21.1% name charities and religious organizations.
n = 1,000 · Jun 3–8, 2026 · MoE ±3.1%
Direct payments lead the caregiving asks
For people caring for an aging family member, 46.3% of adults most favor the federal government giving direct payments to help with caregiving costs.
Tax credits follow at 25.2%, paid short-term respite care at 16.7% and requiring employers to provide paid family leave at 11.9%. Adults 18-29 favor mandated paid family leave far more than adults 65 and older (18.1% vs 5.2%).
Topline
46.3% most favor direct federal payments to help with caregiving costs, ahead of tax credits at 25.2%.
n = 1,000 · Jun 3–8, 2026 · MoE ±3.1%
No clear side on immigration as a demographic fix
On using immigration to address the economic effects of aging populations and falling birth rates, the largest group of adults (42.8%) is neutral.
The rest divide almost evenly: 29.8% disagree with using immigration this way and 27.4% agree.
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Jun 3–8, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.1% |
| Module | A |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
Who do you think should primarily provide help to an older adult who does not have any family?
- reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this as a policy option for the US?
- reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
Which of the following policies would you most favor for the federal government to implement for people who are providing care for an aging family member?
Cite this topic
Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051, fielded June 3-8, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.