Market reference note: This article draws on information from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is labeled 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the text to indicate which country it applies to.
On the very first day of caring for a parent, many people make a quiet promise to themselves: "I can handle this. I don't need to lean on anyone else." Behind that promise is love, a sense of responsibility — and often a fear that asking for help will make them look inadequate. But as the caregiving journey stretches on, that promise slowly begins to crack. The body gives out first, and then the heart begins to waver.
🇺🇸 U.S. According to the latest survey of family caregivers (Caregiving in the US 2025, jointly released by NAC and NAMI), 64% of caregivers experience moderate or higher levels of emotional stress, and 1 in 4 report feeling alone. That figure is higher than in 2020, when it stood at 21%. The same survey found that caregivers spend an average of 7 days per month in a state of poor mental health. The numbers may feel abstract, but anyone carrying a caregiving role knows in their bones just how heavy each one of those days can be.
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, approximately 53 million people provide unpaid care to a family member. Of those, 43% are sole caregivers — fully responsible on their own — and 47% receive no formal support of any kind. The reasons vary. Some don't have access to information. Others find the application process unfamiliar. And for many, there is an inner voice that asks, "Is what I'm going through really enough to justify asking for help?"
🇰🇷 Korea In Korea, the 장기요양 가족휴가제 (Long-Term Care Family Vacation Program; formerly the 치매가족휴가제, Dementia Family Vacation Program) allows family members caring for a recipient rated Level 1 or 2, or a recipient with dementia, to use short-term care or all-day home-visit care services for up to 10 days per year, separate from the monthly benefit limit. Starting in 2024, the program was expanded so that recipients rated Level 5 and the cognitive support level are also eligible for all-day home-visit care. Making good use of this program can give caregivers a window of time — however brief — to rest and recover fully.
🇺🇸 U.S. At the federal level in the United States, the RAISE Family Caregiving National Strategy (National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers) was established in 2022, with 15 federal agencies carrying out more than 350 action items. According to a 2024 report to Congress, nearly all of the federal commitments made since the 2022 strategy was announced have been completed or are underway, and close to 40 new actions have been added. Medicare has also introduced new billing codes that allow providers to bill for caregiver education and training for patients with chronic conditions or disabilities. These changes reflect a broader shift in perspective — from viewing caregivers as invisible to recognizing them as people who deserve support in their own right.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is, rather, the courage to look honestly at where you are right now. When a caregiver collapses from exhaustion, the care they provide collapses with them. For your parent to receive the most stable care possible, you — the person standing by their side — must be able to hold on. This is not a sentimental statement; it is a practical truth. Reaching out for help is itself a step toward better care.
If any of this resonates with you, where might you begin? Start by saying something honest to one person around you. A single sentence — "I've been struggling lately" — can be the beginning of connection. In terms of formal programs, 🇰🇷 Korea you can visit the 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service) 노인장기요양 (Long-Term Care Insurance) website or contact your local 치매안심센터 (Dementia Care Center) to check whether you are eligible to apply for the 가족휴가제. 🇺🇸 U.S. If you are in the United States, your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can connect you with support resources near you.
Sources: National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), joint brief based on Caregiving in the US 2025 (2025); SeniorLiving.org, Family Caregiver Annual Report and Statistics (February 2025); U.S. HHS and ACL, 2024 Report to Congress: Progress Report on Federal Implementation of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (2024); 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) and 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service), notice and expansion guidance on the 장기요양 가족휴가제 (2024); 한가족재가복지센터, guidance on benefit provision standards for the 2024 장기요양 가족휴가제 (2024).
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.