Market reference 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.
Many caregivers have their parent's next appointment marked in bold on the calendar, yet can barely remember when their own last health checkup was. "I'm fine," or "I'm too busy right now" — when those words pile up year after year, there comes a moment when the caregiver themselves becomes the patient. This article is an invitation to pull that postponed checkup appointment back out and make it happen.
🇺🇸 U.S. According to a caregiver survey released by A Place for Mom in 2025, 78% of caregivers in the United States reported experiencing burnout, and a significant portion of them said they feel burnout on a weekly or even daily basis. In the same survey, stress and anxiety emerged as the most common symptoms, experienced by 87% of caregivers. The numbers quietly speak to how deeply the weight of caregiving burrows into body and mind.
🇺🇸 U.S. A report published by the CDC in 2024 (MMWR) found that 1 in 5 American adults is a caregiver for a family member or acquaintance, and that caregivers fared worse than non-caregivers on 13 out of 19 health indicators. 🇺🇸 U.S. A separate survey found that 40–70% of caregivers experience clinically significant depressive symptoms, and 23% directly reported that caregiving had a negative impact on their own physical health.
🇰🇷 Korea In the 2024 Survey on Public Mental Health Knowledge and Attitudes published by the 보건복지부 국립정신건강센터 (Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Center for Mental Health), the proportion of people who experienced a mental health problem in the past year rose to 73.6%, up 9.7 percentage points from 63.9% in 2022. The share of people who experienced serious stress jumped sharply, from 36.0% in 2022 to 46.3% in 2024. Given that these figures cover the general public as a whole, the mental health pressure on caregivers — who carry the additional burden of providing care — may be considerably heavier.
The problem is that caregivers are the very people most likely to abandon their own health management during exactly this period. 🇺🇸 U.S. Even among adults who have insurance, 38% reported delaying a doctor visit due to cost or time constraints, and 32% cited "inability to find a convenient time or simply forgetting to make an appointment" as one of their reasons for postponing. If you are a caregiver, that answer will feel familiar. When you are managing a senior's medical schedule, your own turn keeps getting pushed to the back.
🇺🇸 U.S. According to CDC data, conditions detected early through preventive health screenings show markedly higher survival rates and treatment outcomes than those diagnosed after symptoms appear. Some analyses indicate that preventable hospitalizations alone cost the United States tens of billions of dollars annually. Protecting a caregiver's health is not merely personal self-care — it is a practical choice that safeguards the continuity of caregiving. 🇰🇷 Korea The 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service) publishes annual health screening statistics through its 일반건강검진통계연보 (General Health Screening Statistical Yearbook), and workplace subscribers are eligible for a free health screening every other year, while regional subscribers are eligible depending on the target year.
We understand that putting off a checkup never comes from bad intentions. Putting your parent first is an expression of genuine love. But just like the airplane safety rule — you must put on your own oxygen mask before helping the person beside you. If you have not yet had your checkup this year, we encourage you to write your own name on the calendar this week and book a date. Even a basic screening that covers blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and a mental health assessment can catch hidden warning signs before they become serious.
Sources: 보건복지부·국립정신건강센터 「2024년 국민 정신건강 지식 및 태도 조사」 (Ministry of Health and Welfare and National Center for Mental Health, "2024 Survey on Public Mental Health Knowledge and Attitudes"), 국민건강보험공단 「건강검진통계연보」 (National Health Insurance Service, General Health Screening Statistical Yearbook), A Place for Mom "2025 Caregiver Burnout and Stress Statistics," HumanCare NY "39 Caregiver Statistics, Facts & Trends" (2025), CDC·MMWR "Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers — United States, 2015–2016 to 2021–2022" (2024), USAFacts "How many people in America skip medical treatment due to healthcare costs?" (2025), U.S. News & World Report "Americans' Primary Care Experiences, Preferences 2024 Survey Report."
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.