Young Adults Feel Stress of Long-Term Care, Poll Finds

A survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found young adults are more likely to feel stressed out by the experience of caring for older loved ones, reports Associated Press . The poll found 35 percent of American adults younger than 40 have already provided care for an older relative or friend, and another 34 percent expect to be called upon to do so in the next five years. Seventeen percent of young adults are currently providing long-term care to an older loved one, and another 19 percent have done so in the past. Seventy-five percent of younger caregivers spend less than 10 hours weekly providing care, versus most caregivers over age 40 who provide at least 10 hours of weekly unpaid care. However, despite putting in fewer hours of unpaid work, younger caregivers are more likely than older caregivers to say their care duties are at least moderately stressful. Most caregivers also say they are receiving most or all of the support they need, with young caregivers especially likely to say they are supported by relatives. They also are more likely than older ones to depend at least in part on social media for the support they require. Most young adults doubt that government safety-net programs will be available for them as they age, while only 16 percent think they will have the financial resources to meet their own care needs when they get older. Concurrently, only about 10 percent expect Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid to provide at least the same level of benefits when they need them.