Survey Highlights Emotional, Financial Costs of Caregiving

WASHINGTON—U.S. News and World Report recently conducted a nationwide survey of 302 American adults who self-identify as a caregiver for another adult. via PureSpectrum in March of 2026. These adults self-identified as a caregiver for an adult. The publication asked respondents about their experiences with caregiving, including multiple-choice and ranked-choice questions about the impact of caregiving, their feelings and experiences with professional help.

Of the respondents, 280 individuals reported being the sole caregiver for an adult. Fifty percent of respondents (151 people) identified themselves as male, and 50% identified as female. Roughly 37% were between the ages of 35 and 44, 31% between the ages of 45 and 54, 17% between the ages of 55 and 64 and 16% over the age of 65.

Key takeaways of the survey include:

• The time commitment for approximately one-quarter (25.5%) of U.S. caregivers spend more than 40 hours a week on caregiving duties, the equivalent to a full-time job. An additional 15% said they spend more than 60 hours per week.
• Caregiving also imposes a significant financial burden, with the largest group of caregivers (30.2%) spending between $1,001 and $5,000 on care in the last year.
• Caregiver burnout and emotional strain are widespread, with 42% of caregivers reporting they feel constantly or often overwhelmed, and many sacrificing leisure time (27%) and time with friends and family (21%).
• Caregivers express high satisfaction with professional support, with 73% saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the help they received. However, a substantial number of caregivers still struggle with feeling guilty (35%) or overwhelmed (22%) with the idea of turning over care to a professional.

In regards to finances, respondents said some expenses are one-time costs such as specialized medical equipment and home modifications like ramps or grab bars, but other expenses are reoccuring, like professional home health aides and daily supplies.

The biggest personal sacrifices that respondents noted were:

• Feeling disconnected from leisure time and hobbies (27%)
• Lost time with other friends and family members (21%)
• Spending a significant amount of personal finances (17%)
• Resigning from job to make more time for caregiving (14%)

To view the full list of results, click here.