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The way in which Europeans expect the public authorities to take care of the elderly, be they pensioners or dependent persons, is strongly influenced by their cultural context. The Eurobarometer survey conducted in 1995 in European Union countries reveals a north-south divide. In this article, the author analyses the replies given by three countries representative of European diversity (Sweden, France and Greece). The Swedes, like their Scandinavian neighbours, express a massive preference for residential care of the elderly, while for the Greeks, it is natural for ageing parents to stay in the family home. The French hesitate between indecision (“it depends upon the circumstances”) and a preference for care within the family. It is true that in Greece, not many women go out to work and they have fewer children compared to their counterparts in other European countries. Moreover, the proportion of old people living with their children is already very high. In Sweden, on the other hand, women are very active and fertility rates are among the highest in Europe. They have less time to devote to the care of an elderly parent. But a preference for care within the family does not signify a rejection of all forms of state intervention. 60% of Europeans think that the state should contribute to the cost of caring for the most dependent old people. On this question, the differences between countries are small. Similarly, most Europeans think that the state should finance old age pensions, in part at least. Logically, those who think that pensions should be entirely state funded also believe that health care should be financed likewise. Countries like Sweden with a strong public sector wish to maintain their existing system. Countries with a strong family tradition are expressing concern about the future and believe that families are less willing to look after elderly relatives than in the past. And it is these countries that will be most affected by the rapid ageing of their population. This issue will become more pressing as fewer old people can be looked after in the family home or by family members and as demand for state intervention increases.