This study analyzed 251 completed questionnaires concerning the social support network of caregivers for elderly family members. The hierarchy of social support resources was assumed to be in the order of co-resident family members, non-resident family members, friends, and neighbors to professional caregivers. Using the subcategory comparison method showed that a lower member compensates for a higher member's absence for emotional and instrumental support, and thus a hierarchical compensation model was supported. Social support network members conformed to the task specificity model regarding emotional, minor and major instrumental support, companionship, and informational support. Further, for companionship and informational support, particular resources indicated that compensation depends upon task specificity. Therefore, revision of the hierarchical compensation model is suggested. Caregiver levels of life satisfaction in cases of coresident family support are than those of non-resident family support. The importance of family support, the possibilities of compensation, and the differences of social support networks that depend on the relationships between caregivers and caretakers, are discussed.