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As the life expectancy continues to grow, the issues of supporting older adults become more relevant. Thesupport can be provided by numerous agents – family members, non-commercial organizations, communityand state. In this paper we aim to find evidence on whether family and state in Russia substitute orcomplement each other in ensuring the wellbeing of older adults. Based on data retrieved from subnationalsurvey in Tomsk region and nation-wide Comprehensive Monitoring of Living Conditions we havedetermined substitution to be the most likely family-state interplay. Various types of help from children toolder parents correlate positively with each other and do not correlate with state support. It speaks in favourof state providing limited and conditional support in case it absolutely has to – low pension payments,disabilities. Family support proves to be unconditional, not determined by living conditions, health orfinancial wellbeing of older adults. Though substitution of family and state support may seem adequate forthe advanced economies, in countries like Russia it may lead to lower overall support and lower standardsof living in older age. We also need to consider that most Russian families are struggling to make ends meetand a wider state support for the older adults would benefit all age groups in preventing poverty.