The paper reports research findings on two aspects of the family as a social support system: family care for the elderly in time of illness and family visiting patterns. The data come from a 1975 national probability survey of noninstitutionalized persons, 65 years of age and older. The immediate family of the old person is the major social support in time of illness and the extended family of the old person, children, siblings and other relatives, is the major tie of the elderly to the community.