Crushing Strain: New Study Exposes How Caregiving Drains Families, Highlights Urgent Need for Long-Term Care Planning

When the phone rings at midnight with the news, your mom wandered out of the house and fell — again — your world stops. You’re packing a bag for an indefinite stay, calling your boss about missing work, and wondering how long you can keep this up. If this scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

A groundbreaking study sponsored by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals shows the crushing reality many American families face: caregiving for an aging loved one brings overwhelming emotional stress and financial strain, even for families who thought they were prepared.

Caregiving: A Hidden Financial and Emotional Crisis

The Otsuka-sponsored study uncovered alarming statistics:

• Nearly 60% of caregivers report feeling “overwhelmed” or “at their breaking point.”
• Almost half of caregivers reduce work hours or leave their jobs to provide care.
• 56% use their own savings to pay for professional home care or facility costs.
• More than half say caregiving has strained relationships with spouses, siblings, or children.

These findings are supported by research from AARP, which estimates that unpaid family caregivers lose an average of $324,044 in wages and retirement benefits over their lifetime.

Meanwhile, the LTC News' ongoing survey of the costs of long-term care services reveals the high expense of extended care, even when provided at home.

The LTC News Cost of Care Calculator indicates that the median annual cost for assisted living now exceeds $58,000 per year before surcharges, which can add $2,000 or more each month, depending on the level of services an individual requires.

The costs will increase in the years and decades ahead, placing a huge financial burden on individuals and families.

Yes, most people say they would love to age in place, in their own homes. In-home care is now averaging nearly $66,000 per year (based on a 44-hour week).

Memory care and nursing home costs are even more expensive.

Millions of family caregivers are experiencing physical, emotional, and financial strain, leading to burnout and depression.

Almost half of caregivers have experienced increased anxiety, depression or other mental‑health issues in the past year — 62% more than non‑caregivers. — 2023 report by Guardian Life on the state of caregiving in America.

Why Health Insurance and Medicare Won’t Save You

Many assume health insurance or Medicare will cover long-term care. In reality:

• Health insurance only pays for acute, medically necessary treatment — not daily help with activities like bathing, dressing, or supervision for dementia.
• Medicare may cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing after hospitalization, but it won’t pay for ongoing custodial care.
• Medicaid, the largest payer of long-term care in the U.S., requires you to be near poverty levels before qualifying for assistance.

Many surveys suggest that most Americans mistakenly believe Medicare will cover long-term care, but it won’t. It leaves most families wondering what to do unless their loved one had the foresight to purchase Long-Term Care Insurance when they were younger and help themselves.

A new 2025 survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute found nearly six in 10 Americans wrongly believe Medicare pays for long-term care, leaving millions vulnerable to unexpected costs and financial strain.

You’ve likely heard the old saying about what happens when you make assumptions.

Share your thoughts and experiences about aging, caregiving, health, and long-term care with LTC News —Contact Us at LTC News.

For Families Already in Crisis: Stress, Anxiety, and Compounding Challenges

If you’re in the thick of caregiving now, the crisis is personal — and the emotional toll can feel relentless.

When an older parent’s needs suddenly escalate, family stress compounds. Siblings often disagree on care decisions, creating resentment or guilt that fractures relationships. Spouses of adult children may feel sidelined or exhausted as they watch their partner burn out, straining their own marriages.

I felt like I was alone in a storm, with everyone telling me what I should do, but no one stepping up to actually help. — Lilly H, 57, from Buffalo, New York, who cared for her mother with dementia.

For older spouses, the crisis can spiral quickly. A frail husband or wife often wants to help but lacks the strength or cognition, becoming another person the family must care for — the “caregiving double burden.”

This emotional pressure can trigger:

• High blood pressure, insomnia, depression or chronic pain in caregivers.
• Conflict among siblings over money and decisions.
• Chronic anxiety about safety, finances, and whether you’re making the right choices.

The emotional strain of caring for a loved one with dementia is like living in a state of chronic grief and constant vigilance.

Long-Term Care Insurance: The Key to Protecting Your Family and Finances

Planning ahead with Long-Term Care Insurance remains the best way for most people to secure quality care, protect savings, and ease the burden on loved ones. Two main policy options can make a dramatic difference:

• Traditional LTC Insurance — Covers in-home care, assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes, often with affordable premiums when purchased in your 50s or early 60s. Partnership-certified LTC policies offer dollar-for-dollar Medicaid asset protection.
• Hybrid policies — Combine life insurance or annuities with federally qualified long-term care benefits, ensuring you or your heirs receive value whether or not you ever need care.
• Short-term plans — These policies pay cash over a short period of time for long-term care services, but offer relaxed underwriting rules.

Experts say that planning for long-term care is essential for protecting not only your savings but also your family’s emotional well-being.

These policies give you choices — letting you receive care at home, avoid burdening your family, and preserve your estate for your spouse or children.

Professional Care: A Lifeline for Families

If your family is already facing a caregiving crisis, bringing in professional help can ease stress, provide better outcomes, and protect your loved one’s dignity.

Professional caregivers can:

• Reduce your risk of burnout by providing respite care.
• Ensure safe, consistent support with medication, hygiene, and mobility.
• Allow your parent to stay at home longer or transition smoothly to assisted living.

To find qualified caregivers near you, the LTC News Caregiver Directory lets you search by zip code for high-quality in-home care agencies, adult day care centers, or assisted living communities. Explore it here:

A Call to Action

The Otsuka Pharmaceuticals study is a stark reminder: without a plan, caregiving can destroy finances and family relationships. Long-Term Care Insurance and professional care planning give you — and your loved ones — a better path forward.

Ask yourself: are you prepared for the day your family gets that late-night call?