Changes in Americans’ Views on Who Should Provide and Pay for Assistance to Older Adults with Activity Limitations, 2012 to 2022

Abstract

An aging U.S. population means more older adults in need of care over time. Although government programs that supply financial support for older adults receive high levels of backing, social norms dictate that when it comes to care, families should be held responsible. Although families do provide most of the care older adults receive, it can often be in balance with more formal provisions such as paid care. However, there is a divide between what older people themselves feel is best compared with other groups. The authors ask, What are American attitudes toward the provision of elder care and payment for such care, how have these attitudes changed in the past decade, and are there differences by age? The authors use cross-sectional data from the 2012 and 2022 General Social Survey and find that younger adults were more likely to support government provision and payment for elder care over time.