Enabling Ageing in Place: The Potential for Expanded Family Care

As ageing in place becomes a central component of eldercare strategies, family members of older adults face mounting pressure to provide more care for older people. By analysing data from Norway, this paper explores the potential for expanding family care for older relatives living in their own homes. We address the following questions: (1) To what extent do adult children provide help and care for their ageing parents? (2) Is there potential for expanding family care? (3) Do caregivers need municipal support aimed at supporting family caregivers? In March 2025, we surveyed a nationwide sample of 3,673 respondents aged 45 to 67, each with at least one parent residing in their own home. We analyse the data using descriptive statistics, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling. Respondents provided various types of practical and administrative help. Seven in ten respondents indicated a willingness to extend care if public care services inadequately meet parents' needs as frailty increases. An equal proportion indicated that other family members would increase care. Four in ten were willing to make one or more significant life adjustments to offer extra care: taking short unpaid leave, reducing working hours, moving in with their parents, opting for early retirement, and/or taking extended unpaid leave, such as for a year. Respondents expressed a need for enhanced municipal support tailored to caregivers. We conclude that implementing low-resource initiatives for family caregivers could be a cost-effective strategy, enabling increased family caregiving while reducing reliance on costly eldercare services and institutional care.