Caregiving exhaustion is reaching crisis levels. One of the nation's leading long-term care planning specialists says early planning is the only real solution.

Millions of Americans are silently cracking under the weight of caregiving. They're raising children, working full-time, and providing or managing the care of aging parents, all at once. And the data shows it's taking a severe toll.

A December 2025 Finance of America survey of 2,009 adults found that among self-identified Sandwich Generation caregivers, 86 percent are emotionally exhausted, 80 percent report physical exhaustion, and 69 percent say they are financially drained. More than 32 percent have two or more chronic conditions, and 41 percent have developed high blood pressure that they attribute directly to caregiving stress.

"Every week, I talk to adult children who are exhausted," said Matt McCann, CLTC, a nationally recognized long-term care planning specialist.

"They're trying to be caregivers, parents, and full-time employees all at once. People think they can do it all. They can't. Caregiving is a cash-flow problem, but it's also a family problem." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

Medicare Won't Save You. Neither Will Health Insurance.

One of the biggest drivers of the crisis, McCann says, is a dangerous misconception that government programs will cover long-term care costs.

"Too many people still believe health insurance or Medicare will pay for long-term care," McCann said. Medicaid will pay for long-term care for those with limited financial resources.

"Medicare and supplements only cover short-term skilled care. When a parent needs help with bathing, meals, mobility, or memory care, that responsibility falls directly on the family, unless they own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

McCann sees the pattern play out constantly in his own conversations with clients nationwide.

"I speak with many adults in their 40s, 50s, and early 60s who are providing the equivalent of part-time work in unpaid eldercare every week," McCann said. "They tell me how physically and emotionally difficult the job is — or was — and they don't want to place that burden on their own adult children."

Long-Term Care Costs are Exploding Nationwide

The financial stakes are staggering. According to 2026 cost-of-care data compiled by LTC News in their nationwide surveys of real costs:

• Home care now averages $5,742 a month (based on a 44-hour week)
• Assisted living averages $5,066 per month before surcharges that add up to another $2,000 a month
• Memory care often exceeds $5,793 per month before surcharges, which can add up to another $3,000 a month
• Nursing home care can surpass $10,956 a month, over $131,000 a year

McCann says the cost of extended care is based, in part, on the type of services you require and where you live.

"For example, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the average cost of long-term care, for the most part, is under the national average; however, in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, it is substantially higher than the national average." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

He recommends that, when designing a Long-Term Care Insurance plan, you consider the cost of care where you live or where you expect to live once you retire. Policies are good anywhere nationwide, but McCann says they are custom-designed.

Without a plan, families absorb those costs through their income and depleted savings, disrupted careers, and fractured relationships.

The Fix Isn't Heroism. It's Planning.

McCann is direct: the Sandwich Generation's crisis is the predictable result of a society that waits too long to plan.

"The Sandwich Generation is burning out because they're carrying a responsibility they were never meant to shoulder alone," he said. "If you want to avoid putting your own children in that position decades from now, the time to plan is before retirement — while you're still healthy and insurable."

Long-Term Care Insurance, McCann explains, does more than protect income and assets. Modern policies provide home care benefits, care coordination services, and coverage for assisted living, memory care, and nursing home settings. When purchased in one's 40s to early 60s, premiums are significantly more affordable.

"Long-Term Care Insurance gives families access to quality care in any setting. It safeguards income and assets — but more importantly, it protects your family from the emotional burden of caregiving. It gives your kids the freedom to stay children, not become full-time caregivers." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

A Legacy Decision, Not Just a Financial One

McCann's message to adults who are still years away from needing care is simple: what you do today determines what your family faces tomorrow.

"Long-term care is the risk most likely to derail a retirement plan," he said.

"But with affordable Long-Term Care Insurance, families can avoid the crisis, the burnout, and the heartbreak we're seeing play out right now in millions of homes across the country." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

He adds that the conversation doesn't have to be overwhelming. He says that most people are surprised at how affordable coverage can be when they plan early, and how much peace of mind it brings to the whole family.

"This isn't about fear. It's about love." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

Finding Quality Long-Term Care Services

For those who are already juggling the responsibility of caring for parents and their own family, finding quality care can help reduce the burden, even if it is part-time respite care.

McCann directs families to the LTC News Caregiver Directory, which includes more than 80,000 caregivers and long-term care facilities nationwide. It takes only minutes to search for quality options anywhere in the United States.

If a loved one has an LTC policy, McCann says that LTC News partners with Amada Senior Care to provide free claim support with no cost or obligation — File a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim.  

About Matt McCann, CLTC

Matt McCann, CLTC, has spent nearly 30 years helping families prepare for the financial and emotional realities of aging. As one of the nation's most respected long-term care planning specialists, he is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and represents the industry's leading insurance carriers.

McCann's approach is personal, transparent, and pressure-free. Clients can consult with him by phone at their convenience while he shows them his computer screen, creating a simple, convenient experience. He walks families through their options at their own pace—no office visit required.

You can start the process and get free and accurate quotes from all the top companies — plus professional recommendations — by visiting Free and Accurate LTC Insurance Quotes.

Media Availability

Matt McCann is a trusted, frequently quoted voice on aging, caregiving, and long-term care. With nearly three decades of experience, he brings clear, practical insight to conversations about how families can prepare for the financial and emotional realities of extended care.

McCann is available for interviews, expert commentary, radio, podcasts, webinars, and panel discussions. He regularly collaborates with journalists, producers, and conference organizers seeking authoritative perspectives on long-term care trends, policy developments, caregiving challenges, and the future of aging in America.

Contact McCann through his website for information.