{"id":289589,"date":"2026-02-26T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&#038;p=289589"},"modified":"2026-02-26T10:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:00:13","slug":"most-older-adults-who-live-at-home-want-to-age-in-place-but-they-arent-entirely-confident-theyll-get-to","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/02\/26\/most-older-adults-who-live-at-home-want-to-age-in-place-but-they-arent-entirely-confident-theyll-get-to\/","title":{"rendered":"Most older adults who live at home want to age in place, but they aren\u2019t entirely confident they\u2019ll get to"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><img data-dominant-color=\"9d917f\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9d917f;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_featured.png?resize=480,270 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_featured.png?resize=782,440 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_featured.png?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_featured.png?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_featured.png?resize=1280,720 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_featured.png?w=640\" alt=\"A young female care assistant helps an elderly man, in his 80s, down a narrow staircase in his own home.\" class=\"wp-image-289820 not-transparent\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Catherine Falls Commercial via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vast majority of U.S. adults 65 and older (93%) say they currently live in their own home or apartment. Within this group, 9% say someone provides care for them in their home, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that covered topics related to <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2025\/11\/06\/how-americans-are-thinking-about-aging\/\">aging<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2026\/02\/26\/family-caregiving-in-an-aging-america\/\">caregiving<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small shares of older adults say they live in the home of an adult child (2%) or another family member (1%), live in an assisted living facility (1%), or have some other arrangement (3%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-style-plus-icon has-border-color has-ui-gray-light-border-color has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background has-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-61b01db2 wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.009), 0.88em);\"><summary>About this research<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Pew Research Center analysis looks at where older Americans live and how they\u2019d like to live in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center does research to help the public, the media and decision-makers understand important topics. This research is part of our ongoing effort to study how the U.S. is changing socially and demographically and how the public is reacting to these changes. It builds on previous work we\u2019ve done on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/topic\/generations-age\/age\/older-adults-aging\/\">older adults and aging<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We surveyed 8,750 adults from Sept. 2 to 8, 2025, including 2,582 adults ages 65 and older. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">American Trends Panel<\/a>. The survey represents the views of all U.S. adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_questionnaire.pdf\">survey questions<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_topline.pdf\">detailed responses<\/a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2025\/11\/06\/aging-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A note about surveying older adults<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When looking at these findings about older adults, it is important to keep in mind that we can\u2019t survey people who may be too ill or unwell to take part. We also can\u2019t survey people who live in a group setting, such as a nursing home. According to the 2020 U.S. decennial census, 3% of U.S. adults ages 65 and older and 10% of those ages 85 and older live in group settings.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-older-adults-would-like-to-live\">Where older adults would like to live<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=289591\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d8e4e1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"820\"  sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_1.png?resize=480,635 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_1.png?resize=620,820 620w\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_1.png?w=620\" alt=\"A pie chart showing that most older adults who live at home want to age in place.\" class=\"wp-image-289591 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d8e4e1; width:310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We asked older adults who <em>live in their own home without a caregiver<\/em> what they\u2019d want to do if they could no longer do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Most (60%) say they\u2019d want to stay in their home and have someone care for them.<\/strong> Much smaller shares say they\u2019d want to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Move into an assisted living facility (18%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Move in with a family member (11%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Move into a nursing home (1%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have some other arrangement (8%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upper-income older adults are the most likely to say they\u2019d prefer to move to assisted living. About three-in-ten (28%) say this, compared with 19% of those with middle incomes and 13% of those with lower incomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"uncertainties-with-living-arrangements\">Uncertainties with living arrangements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older adults aren\u2019t entirely confident they\u2019ll end up where they want to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=289592\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dde3dc\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_2.png?resize=480,437 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_2.png?resize=782,711 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_2.png?resize=840,764 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"582\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_2.png?w=640\" alt=\"A stacked bar chart showing that older adults who\u2019d prefer to move in with family are most confident that they\u2019ll get to live how they want.\" class=\"wp-image-289592 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dde3dc; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among those who say they\u2019d want to <strong>stay in their home with a caregiver,<\/strong> 37% say this is extremely or very likely to happen. Another 18% say it\u2019s not too or not at all likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those who say they\u2019d rather <strong>move to assisted living <\/strong>answered similarly: 35% say this is highly likely to happen, while 16% say it\u2019s not likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older adults who say they\u2019d like to <strong>move in with family <\/strong>are more optimistic: 58% say this is highly likely, while 9% say it\u2019s not likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the uncertainty surrounding future living arrangements may be related to cost, especially for options like in-home care and assisted living. The survey found that only 21% of adults ages 65 and older have long-term care insurance that would help cover the expense of ongoing living assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: Here are our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_questionnaire.pdf\">survey questions<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.26_aging-in-place_topline.pdf\">detailed responses<\/a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2025\/11\/06\/aging-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Upper-income older adults are the most likely to say they\u2019d prefer to move to assisted 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