Market note: This article draws on data 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.
Since you began caring for your elderly parent, when was the last time you actually checked in on your own body? You brush off a sore back with "it'll get better soon," and you push through headaches because leaving your parent's side feels wrong. Day by day, the caregiver's body is quietly, slowly pushed to last place.
🇺🇸 U.S. According to the "2025 Caregiving in the U.S." report published by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, approximately 47% of family caregivers said their own physical health had declined since they began providing care. A study analyzing CDC data found that 13 out of 19 health indicators examined were worse for caregivers than for non-caregivers, with obesity, asthma, and arthritis being especially pronounced. 🇺🇸 U.S. As of 2024, the number of family caregivers in the United States is estimated at approximately 53 million, and it is reported that roughly 40–70% of them experience symptoms of depression.
🇰🇷 Korea The situation in Korea is no different. According to the Survey of the Living Conditions of Older Koreans (노인실태조사) released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) in 2023, family members remain the number-one care providers for elderly people with physical functional limitations, accounting for 81.4%. This reflects a structure in which the weight of caregiving is concentrated on individual family members. 🇰🇷 Korea The Bank of Korea (한국은행) estimated that the economic loss from people unable to participate in the workforce due to caring for an ailing parent amounted to 0.5–0.9% of GDP as of 2022, or between 11 trillion and 19 trillion won in monetary terms. Behind that economic loss lies an equivalent degree of physical and mental exhaustion.
The reasons a caregiver's physical health deteriorates go beyond simply being "too busy." Chronic sleep deprivation sets in, skipping meals becomes routine, and exercise feels like a luxury. Helping an elderly parent move around or assisting with bathing puts steady strain on the back and shoulders, yet even when the pain is recognized, finding time to see a doctor proves impossible. 🇺🇸 U.S. According to CDC research, caregivers were also more likely than non-caregivers to report being unable to receive medical care due to cost.
So where can you turn for help? 🇰🇷 Korea In Korea, the National Long-Term Care Insurance (노인장기요양보험) home-based benefits support elderly individuals in receiving publicly funded care services at home. The 2023 Survey of the Living Conditions of Older Koreans showed that the proportion of older adults receiving care through long-term care insurance rose significantly, from 19.1% in 2020 to 30.7% in 2023. Making active use of the public care system can create breathing room for caregivers. 🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, as of 2024, 47 states provide at least one respite care service through Medicaid, and the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for caring for a parent, spouse, or other family member with a serious health condition. Contacting your local Area Agency on Aging can connect you with low-cost or free short-term care programs.
Alongside making use of available programs, small everyday habits matter just as much. Even 10 minutes of stretching a day, making sure to eat at least one proper meal, or simply writing a long-postponed health checkup appointment on next week's calendar — these small actions build the foundation that protects a caregiver's body over the long term. You need to be healthy so that your parent can be safe. Taking care of yourself is not a selfish choice; it is an essential condition for being able to continue providing care.
Sources: AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 (as cited in aplaceformom.com); CDC/MMWR, Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers — United States, 2015–2016 to 2021–2022 (2024); Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부), 2023 Survey of the Living Conditions of Older Koreans, results announcement; Bank of Korea (한국은행) estimate (as cited in insanmedicine.com); U.S. Department of Labor DOL, FMLA Family Caregiver guidance page; integrityinc.org, Support for Family Caregivers (2025); ACL, Lifespan Respite Care Program.
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.