# Americans look to the government to care for older adults with no family

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/americans-look-to-government-to-care-for-older-adults/
Published: 2026-07-13

> Featured topic in Politics.

About six-in-ten U.S. adults (59.9%) say the government should primarily help an older adult who has no family, roughly three times the 21.1% who name charities, religious organizations and nonprofits.

## Overview: Who should care for an aging society

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%).

## 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%).

## 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.

## Supporting evidence

### 59.9% say the government should primarily help an older adult who has no family; 21.1% name charities and religious organizations.

Question: Who do you think should primarily provide help to an older adult who does not have any family?

Note: Shows who adults think should primarily help an older adult with no family; 59.9% say the government.

Topline:

- Government: 59.9%
- Charities/religious organizations/ non-profit: 21.1%
- Friends/neighbors: 11.9%
- Private companies: 7.1%

### 46.3% most favor direct federal payments to help with caregiving costs, ahead of tax credits at 25.2%.

Question: 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?

Note: Shows which federal caregiving policy adults most favor; direct payments lead at 46.3%.

Topline:

- Giving direct payments to help with caregiving costs: 46.3%
- Giving tax credits to help pay for caregiving: 25.2%
- Paying for short-term care for aging adults to give family caregivers a break: 16.7%
- Requiring employers to provide paid family leave: 11.9%

## 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: 2026-06-03 → 2026-06-08
- 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

- [Who do you think should primarily provide help to an older adult who does not have any family?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-7): reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026: Shows who adults think should primarily help an older adult with no family; 59.9% say the government.
- [To what extent do you agree or disagree with this as a policy option for the US?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-19): reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026: Shows views on using immigration to address the economic effects of aging populations; 42.8% are neutral, 29.8% disagree and 27.4% agree.
- [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?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-6): reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026: Shows which federal caregiving policy adults most favor; direct payments lead at 46.3%.

## Citation

Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051, fielded June 3-8, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-7](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-7)