Ifop, on behalf of SYNERPA, surveyed French people about their views on care for the elderly. The survey was conducted among a sample of 1,000 people representative of the French population aged 18 and older, from June 18 to 19, 2026.
1 – Faced with the challenge of funding long-term care, public opinion lacks a clear direction
As the population ages at an accelerating rate, the issue of funding long-term care is becoming increasingly pressing. Yet the French are struggling to identify the way forward. Nearly four in ten (39%) say they do not know which model to favor.
Among those who have taken a position, the hybrid model—which combines new contributions and individual financing—garnered the most support (34%). This preference is particularly evident among LR supporters (54%), ahead of LFI supporters (41%) and the Greens (30%). Conversely, exclusively individual financing (16%) appeals more to Renaissance supporters (32%) and RN supporters (21%), while the introduction of new collective contributions convinces only a minority (11%), mainly on the left (19% among LFI supporters, 16% among the Greens).
This collective hesitation contrasts with an increasingly tangible economic reality: only 32% of French people currently believe they can afford to pay for their own admission to a nursing home, compared to 38% in 2024. Behind this six-point decline lie significant social inequalities: nearly one in two managers (49%) say they can afford it, compared to only 27% of employees and 22% of blue-collar workers.
2 – While there is a consensus on staying at home, younger people are increasingly questioning this model
Beyond the issue of financing, another fundamental question remains: how should we support aging?
On this point, the French do not favor a single solution but overwhelmingly support the development of intermediate housing and senior living facilities (92%). Staying at home comes in a close second (88%), and moving into a nursing home for those who can no longer live safely on their own also garners overwhelming support (87%).
Behind this apparent unanimity, however, lies a generational divide. Seniors overwhelmingly support staying at home (99% of those aged 65 and older), while this priority loses ground among younger people: 72% among those under 35 and only 63% among 18- to 24-year-olds. Thus, nearly one-third of Generation Z (31%) does not consider aging at home to be an absolute priority, a sign that perceptions of old age are evolving across generations.
3 – Recruiting for the Elderly: Family Caregivers Are the Top Choice, While Labor Immigration Takes a Back Seat
Meeting these expectations will require recruiting 600,000 professionals in the field of elder care over the next ten years. On this point, the French clearly prioritize the proposed solutions, with a marked preference for family involvement.
The creation of a “caregiver stipend” allowing a family member to reduce or stop working to care for a dependent parent garners 88% support, with a consensus spanning the political spectrum. Making continued receipt of the RSA (Income Support Allowance) contingent on accepting training or a job in fields facing labor shortages—starting with those in elder care—also garners 75% support. In contrast, relaxing labor immigration requirements to recruit workers in the sector garners only 43% support—the only proposal that fails to reach a majority. On the issue of immigration, support is significantly higher among left-leaning voters (72%) than among supporters of the National Rally (25%).
4 – To cover out-of-pocket costs in nursing homes, the French prefer to use personal assets rather than tax-funded resources
Regarding out-of-pocket costs for nursing homes, the French also prioritize funding sources, with a clear preference for using personal assets rather than relying on tax-based solidarity.
In fact, three out of four French people (75%) support using real estate assets (life annuity, mortgage, sale of the home) to enable older adults with assets but modest incomes to finance their care. Taking out private long-term care insurance starting at age 40 to later finance a stay in a nursing home garners 47% support. As for raising inheritance taxes, this measure faces the strongest opposition: only 30% support it, compared to 70% who oppose it.
5 – Public or Private? The Mixed Model Continues to Prevail
Beyond the financing arrangements, the French seem to have settled the question of the roles of the various stakeholders.
Today, seven out of ten French people (70%) want care for the elderly to be provided through a partnership between the government and the private sector. This preference has been steadily increasing since 2022 (59%), gaining eleven percentage points over four years.
Conversely, relying exclusively on the government is losing ground (24%, down from 35% in 2022), while an entirely private model remains marginal (6%).
The mixed model is particularly popular among supporters of Renaissance (83%), LR (80%), and PS (72%), while LFI supporters appear more reserved (49%).
6 – The divisive debate over the abolition of the ARS
The issue of abolishing the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) divides public opinion into three nearly equal groups: 36% oppose it, 33% support it, and 31% are undecided, with a high rate of non-response reflecting the technical nature of the subject.
Nevertheless, the political divide is clearly evident. A majority of LR (52%) and Renaissance (51%) supporters favor abolishing the ARS. Conversely, supporters of the Greens (59% opposed) and the Socialist Party (58%) advocate for maintaining the ARS, joined by a significant share of National Rally (RN) (46% opposed) and La France Insoumise (LFI) (43%) supporters.
7 – Aging and the Ballot: A Unanimous Priority Whose Mobilizing Effect Remains More Moderate
With less than a year to go before the presidential election, aging has emerged as a widely shared priority. Nearly nine in ten French people (87%) want the next president to make it a major focus of their five-year term—a consensus that cuts across all political affiliations.
However, this concern does not automatically translate into widespread changes in voting behavior: 60% of French people say that a candidate’s proposals on aging could influence their vote—a 27-point gap compared to the recognition of the issue as a national priority.
This concern appears particularly strong among Socialist Party supporters (79%) and Les Républicains (LR) supporters (70%), but remains more limited among younger voters, as fewer than one in two 18- to 24-year-olds (48%) say they would base their vote on this issue.
