Americans favor in-home care over institutional senior living: survey

Is this the end of senior living facilities? Americans are twice as likely to consider moving elderly relatives under their roof than to explore retirement homes.

That’s the verdict of a survey of 2,000 Americans (Gen X or younger with a living parent), which asked what living arrangements they will consider for older relatives.

Results saw “moving them into my home” cited as the top option for consideration, with 39% of respondents saying this is the most likely option.

Just 19% said they’d consider an assisted living community. And only 16% said they’d think about a senior living facility or memory care as an option.

The data suggests that post the boomer generation, the retirement living landscapes may very well shift substantially.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of LevLane, the survey also found that many families haven’t yet had the hard conversations needed to prepare for aging-related care decisions.

Only half of respondents said they’ve discussed future living arrangements with an aging parent or relative, while the other 50% admitted they haven’t broached the topic at all.

“These findings suggest a clear shift in how families are thinking about aging care, with more Americans expecting to handle it at home rather than turning to traditional facilities,” said Liz Weir, chief marketing officer at LevLane. “At the same time, the data shows many families haven’t yet had the conversations needed to prepare for those responsibilities.”

When conversations do happen, responsibility appears to be widely shared.

Nearly one in five Americans surveyed believe adult children typically initiate discussions about changes to an aging loved one’s living situation (19%), closely followed by the aging parent’s siblings (18%), the aging parent themselves (17%), spouses (13%), and close family friends (13%).

Despite the sensitivity of the subject, most respondents don’t expect these discussions to be overly difficult.

A majority (52%) said they anticipate conversations about future care and housing will be easy, while just 24% expect them to be emotionally challenging.

Only children again stood out as the most confident, with 70% expecting those talks to be easy.

Many Americans also anticipate taking a hands-on role in these decisions. About one-third of eldest children (33%) and four in 10 only children (42%) expect to take the lead in future decisions about a parent’s living situation.

Overall, 65% of respondents said they feel their family is prepared to make decisions about an aging relative’s future living arrangements.

Safety emerged as the top factor influencing where an aging loved one ultimately lives, cited by 30% of respondents, followed closely by cost or affordability (27%) and medical needs (25%).

Emotional well-being (23%) and the parents’ own preference (18%) also ranked high, underscoring the emotional and personal weight behind these decisions. Still, caregiving can strain even close-knit families.

More than half of respondents (52%) said they’ve seen caregiving responsibilities cause tension or conflict within their family, though most siblings remain optimistic about sharing the load.

Among respondents with siblings, 67% agreed that future caregiving responsibilities would be shared evenly.

Looking ahead, nearly three in 10 respondents expect to serve as a decision-maker (29%), while 27% anticipate becoming a primary caregiver themselves.

Yet Americans overwhelmingly support autonomy for aging parents: nearly eight in 10 (79%) said they would support their parent making their own decision about future living arrangements.

“This survey reflects a complex shift in how Americans approach aging care,” added Weir. “While many are willing to bring elderly relatives into their homes, it’s clear that families are still navigating a mix of emotional, logistical, and financial challenges.

“The lack of early conversations about future living arrangements reveals a gap in preparation, even as people express a desire to take a more active role in their loved ones’ care. It’s a reminder of the importance of proactive planning, communication, and understanding the full scope of what these decisions entail.”

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans, Gen X or younger with a living parent who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by LevLane and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Dec. 8 – Dec. 15, 2025. A link to the questionnaire can be found [here].