The availability of family can be considered a protective factor for aging well. In this article, we
examine to what extent the family situation of older people creates vulnerability with respect to
their quality of life. Because not everyone is vulnerable to the same degree, we try to identify the
conditions under which older people benefit more from having family resources. Based on the
resources perspective,we argue that the impact of family resources on life satisfaction is stronger
for older people with fewer resources at both the individual level (material, physical and
non-familial social resources) and the country level (welfare state services targeted at older
adults). To test our hypotheses we make use of the fourth wave of the European Values Study, and
the MULTILINKS Social Policy Indicators database. In general our data offer support for the idea
that the presence of intimate family ties (with partner and children) can be considered an
important resource for achieving psychological well-being, whereas their absence or loss may act
as a constraint. Our vulnerability argument is partly supported by the findings. Partner resources
are more important for the life satisfaction of older people with a low education and health
problems. Similarly, having children only improves the life-satisfaction of lower educated older
adults. However, family resources are not more important for older people with fewer material
resources or for older people living in countries with low services levels targeted at older adults.