New national survey finds 90 percent of family caregivers report burnout symptoms — LTC News expert Matt McCann says Long-Term Care Insurance is the planning tool that protects savings, expands care options, and shields families from crisis.

A new national survey commissioned by LogicMark and conducted by Talker Research among 1,000 U.S. adults reveals that 90 percent of family caregivers are experiencing burnout symptoms, with 20 percent describing their burnout as severe. The findings, published today by LTC News, shine a harsh light on a caregiving system stretched well past its limits, and underscore what long-term care planning advocates have warned for years: failing to plan doesn't just drain savings. It transfers an enormous physical and emotional burden directly onto families.

The survey found that 73 percent of caregivers say caregiving has affected or will affect their financial stability, 67 percent report career impacts, and nearly two-thirds of Gen Z caregivers say their job performance has suffered. At the same time, only 19 percent of families have had detailed conversations about aging at home and future care preferences.

"The survey numbers are striking, but they don't surprise anyone who works in this space," said Matt McCann, CLTC, a leading expert in long-term care planning.

"What we're seeing is the predictable result of a society that doesn't like to plan for aging. The costs get paid — one way or another. Without a plan, families pay them." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

Planning Protects More Than Your Savings

McCann emphasizes that Long-Term Care Insurance is often misunderstood as simply a financial product. In his view, its most powerful benefit is what it preserves for families who would otherwise become default caregivers.

"Most people think about Long-Term Care Insurance as protecting their income and their 401(k) or home equity — and it absolutely does that. But the more important protection may be what it does for the people you love. When you have a quality LTC policy in force, you're not calling your daughter at 11 o'clock at night because you can't get to the bathroom. You have professional care, in your home if that's what you want, paid for. That's not just financial planning, that's protecting your family from one of the hardest experiences they'll ever go through." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

McCann notes that the survey's finding — that 29 percent of caregivers say their biggest fear is a loved one refusing help — points to a dynamic LTC Insurance directly addresses. Professional home care, funded by an LTC policy, often meets far less resistance than family-provided care.

"There's a dignity piece here that's easy to overlook," McCann said.

"Most older adults don't want their adult children bathing them or managing their medications. They want to remain independent. LTC Insurance funds the quality professional care that makes real aging-in-place possible — not a situation where a family member is running themselves into the ground trying to be a round-the-clock caregiver." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

Access to Care Is the Overlooked Half of the Equation

The LogicMark survey found that 76 percent of women and 67 percent of men prefer to age at home. Yet aging in place without a funding source often means relying entirely on family — or going without adequate care altogether.

McCann points out that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that over half of Americans turning 65 today will need long-term care services meeting the federal definition — needing help with at least two activities of daily living or supervision due to cognitive impairment. According to the LTC News Cost of Long-Term Care Services Calculator, the average cost of in-home care based on a 44-hour week now runs $5,673 a month. That figure climbs every year.

"Without a funding source, your choices narrow fast," McCann said.

"You either spend down assets paying out of pocket, rely on family to fill the gaps, or end up in a Medicaid-funded facility that may not be where you wanted to be. Long-Term Care Insurance is what keeps all three of those doors from closing on you." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

He adds that quality LTC policies typically cover a broad range of extended care settings, including in-home care, adult day services, assisted living, memory care, and nursing home care, giving policyholders and their families real flexibility in care decisions, not just financial coverage.

"The families who have LTC Insurance in place when care is needed tell a completely different story than the families who don't," McCann said.

"There's less conflict, less guilt, less financial panic. Decisions about care get made based on what's best for the person who needs it — not on what the family can physically or financially manage." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

The Right Time to Plan Is Before a Crisis

The survey found that only 19 percent of families have had detailed conversations about aging and future care. McCann says that the gap is where financial and family hardship tends to begin.

"People in their 40s and 50s are watching their parents go through this right now," he said.

"They're the 90 percent the survey is describing. The smart ones are looking at that experience and saying: I don't want my kids to go through this, and I don't want to be in a position where I have no options. That's exactly when to start planning." — Matt McCann, CLTC.

LTC Insurance premiums are significantly lower when purchased in good health, typically in one's mid-40s to early 60s. Waiting until a health event occurs often eliminates coverage options entirely.

"Long-Term Care Insurance does more than protect a retirement plan, it protects the people you love most," McCann says. "When a policy is in place, family members can stay family instead of becoming caregivers."

Finding Quality Extended Care

Long-Term Care Insurance helps pay for care, but finding the right care matters just as much. McCann points families to the LTC News Caregiver Directory, which lists more than 80,000 caregivers and long-term care facilities nationwide. Searching for quality care options in your area takes just minutes.

About Matt McCann, CLTC

Matt McCann, CLTC, has spent nearly 30 years helping families plan for the costs and burdens of aging. 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 country's leading insurance carriers.

Matt's approach is personal and pressure-free. McCann allows clients to consult by phone at their convenience while viewing his computer screen — ensuring a simple, convenient, and transparent experience. He guides families through their options at their own pace — no office visit required.

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

Media Availability

McCann is a frequent media guest and speaker on issues related to aging, caregiving, retirement planning, health, and long-term care.

Contact McCann through his website for information.