More than Half of the "Sandwich Generation" are at High Risk of Burnout with 64% of them Screening Positive for Depression and Anxiety - Cleo 2nd Annual Family Health Index

New Findings from 12,500 Assessments Completed by Working Caregivers Reveal that Critical Health Needs Go Largely Unaddressed by Employers and Payers, Contributing to Rising Healthcare Costs

SAN FRANCISCO, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleo, a global family care platform, today released its 2nd annual report on the Family Health Index^TM (FHI), the only real-time, multidimensional risk assessment tool that proactively identifies employees and members at higher risk of burnout and in need of intervention. Findings from 12,500+ assessments reveal statistically significant rates of burnout and mental health strain surrounding caregivers in employer populations in U.S.-based multinational companies.

Recognizing the hidden impact to the health and well-being of family caregivers, which contribute to rising healthcare costs, Cleo's FHI assesses each member's needs, provides evidence-based interventions and expert support, and tracks the impact through the reassessment process. Insights revealed that more than half of the "Sandwich Generation" — 64% of those caring for children and parents — screened positive for depression and anxiety.

The FHI report revealed significantly higher levels of burnout among parents and caregivers dealing with complex care journeys, with parents of neurodivergent children being the highest-risk group (65%), followed by family caregivers of someone with a chronic condition (61%), or cancer (55%), or navigating an end-of-life journey (57%). For cancer care, the number one driver of healthcare costs for approximately 50% of employers, Cleo estimates it can save on average $2,888 per engaged caregiver. As the population ages, employers and health plans need to begin addressing this growing portion of their constituency, whose health and well-being impact healthcare costs, including the growing demand for mental health services and increased prevalence of chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart disease.

"Understanding the complex needs of those caregiving for children, adults, or both simultaneously, is crucial for providing them with necessary coaching and navigational support. That's why we created the Family Health Index – to make the invisible toll of caregiving visible," said CEO Dr. Madhavi Vemireddy. "Our FHI insights show caregiving's serious impact on health and well-being, particularly for complex care journeys. The lack of resources leave many struggling in isolation. This creates a vicious cycle — caregivers ultimately require care for themselves and the entire family suffers as a result. With the number of older adults requiring care on the rise, the increasing burden on caregivers and the healthcare system is simply unsustainable."

The U.S. has a caregiving crisis. AARP has found, "61% of family caregivers nationwide are working while juggling caregiving responsibilities." The result is a toll on the health and well-being of millions — not to mention organizations' bottom lines.

Working caregivers are stretched thin as they navigate the compounded demands of caregiving responsibilities, leading to absenteeism, reduced work focus, emotional burnout, and hidden costs:

• Members at higher risk for burnout report an average of 11.4 weeks of lost work productivity annually per caregiver.
  • For every 1,000 employees, this amounts to an estimated annual cost of $3.8 million in lost productivity.

"A population health solution personalized to families' needs is critical to address the caregiving crisis," said Dr. Iver Juster, a physician health economist. "The FHI can help predict, measure, and improve health, well-being, productivity, and economic outcomes. Cleo is able to proactively support caregivers across complex journeys, identify and stop issues before they hit a crisis point, and improve health and workforce-related outcomes."

Insights are only part of the picture — Cleo drives health and productivity outcomes for its members and clients:

• Of those at higher risk for burnout, 70% improved their overall FHI score
• Of those with a positive PHQ-4 screen for depression and anxiety, 64% showed improved their scores
• 37% of higher risk members who improve their FHI score report a gain of at least 100 additional working hours annually

Cleo also observed improvements in increased confidence, emotional wellness, connection to support systems, and dedicating more time to self-care.

Download a copy of the FHI Annual Report here. If you're a member of the press or media, reach out to the Media Contact for your copy.

SOURCE Cleo