Beliefs about levels of care responsibility for older adults in need: Differences by relationship and the presence of dementia

Abstract INTRODUCTION Social norms prescribe family responsibility for care of older adults. However, it is unclear how beliefs about levels of responsibility may vary. METHODS Using the 2024 RAND American Life Panel (ALP), we test whether beliefs vary by type of relationship, including for lifelong friends, whether the older adult has dementia, and by respondent's caregiver status. RESULTS Level of caregiving responsibility assigned is highest for spouses/partners, but biological children, stepchildren, and lifelong friends are believed to have some level of responsibility. Beliefs are relatively unchanged by impairment, except levels are higher for the family unit when the older adult has dementia. Caregivers and non‐caregivers have similar beliefs with a few exceptions. DISCUSSION An older adult's social network members are perceived to have some caregiving responsibility, with greater levels of responsibility for nuclear family. The results lend support to the application of hierarchical compensatory theory to beliefs about care responsibility.