Caregiver Burnout Self-Assessment | The Senior Living Report

Print this assessment and score it honestly. No one is watching.

Free Resource · 2026 Edition

Caregiver Burnout Self-Assessment

Assess where you stand — and find suggested next steps based on your results

Steve Wilson, BSN RN · Registered Nurse & Patient Advocate

This Assessment Is for You

In my years working alongside family caregivers, I have watched burnout build slowly and silently until it becomes a crisis. It does not announce itself. It accumulates — in missed sleep, in growing resentment, in the feeling that no matter what you do it is never enough.

Seventy-eight percent of family caregivers report experiencing burnout weekly or daily. If you are reading this, there is a good chance you already sense something is off. This assessment is designed to help you put a number to that feeling — and to give you a clear picture of where you are and what to do next.

Answer honestly. There are no wrong answers and no one is keeping score except you. The goal is clarity, not judgment.

“These are clinical signs of a caregiver under significant stress — not a person who needs to try harder. Recognizing burnout is the first step to addressing it.”

Self-Assessment

Rate Each Statement Honestly

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Physical Signs

Physical symptoms are often the first signs of burnout — and the most frequently dismissed. Do not minimize what your body is telling you.

I feel exhausted even after a full night of sleep.

I am getting sick more frequently than I used to.

I am neglecting my own medical appointments or medications.

I experience physical tension — headaches, back pain, or stomach problems — that I attribute to stress.

My sleep is disrupted — either too little, too much, or poor quality.

Emotional Signs

Emotional burnout often includes feelings caregivers are ashamed to admit. These feelings are normal, common, and treatable. Please answer honestly.

I feel hopeless or like nothing I do makes a real difference.

I feel resentment toward the person I am caring for — and then guilt about that resentment.

I have lost interest in activities and people that used to bring me joy.

I feel like I am always falling short — that I am never doing enough.

I feel anxious, depressed, or emotionally numb more days than not.

Behavioral Signs

Changes in behavior are often the most visible signs of burnout — to everyone except the caregiver themselves. Try to see yourself as others might.

I have withdrawn from friends, family, or social activities I used to participate in.

I experience anger or irritability that feels out of proportion to what triggered it.

I have made mistakes in caregiving because I was too tired or distracted to focus.

I rely on food, alcohol, or other substances more than I used to in order to cope.

I have stopped asking for help because it feels easier to do everything myself.

Calculate Your Score

Section 01 — Physical Total

Section 02 — Emotional Total

Section 03 — Behavioral Total

Grand Total (0–45)

What Your Score Means

0–15

Managing Well

Signs of stress are present but manageable. Focus on maintaining your support systems and taking preventive steps before burnout develops.

16–30

Moderate Burnout

You are showing significant signs of burnout. This is the time to ask for help, access respite care, and have an honest conversation with your doctor.

31–45

Severe Burnout

You are in crisis. Please reach out today — to your doctor, a counselor, or the AARP Caregiver Helpline at 877-333-5885. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Regardless of your score, if you recognized yourself in any of these statements, that recognition matters. Burnout is not a character failing. It is a clinical condition that responds to support, rest, and intervention. The most important next step is the one you take today — whether that is making one phone call, asking one person for help, or simply acknowledging that what you are carrying is real and heavy and deserves attention. You matter too.

Caregiver Burnout Assessment