Americans drastically underestimate the cost of caring for their loved ones, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual.

Caregivers comprise a massive population segment, with 40 percent of the survey’s 1,003 respondents saying they were caregivers. Another 20 percent expect to step into that role.

While only 25 percent of future caregivers thought of financial support as a key attribute of caregiving, 64 percent of current caregivers ended up providing some level of financial support to their charges. Expenses related to giving care comprised nearly one-third of their budgets, according to the current caregivers.

Most future caregivers, 70 percent, expect to incur financial costs, yet only 60 percent said that they were equipped to handle the potential financial aspects of caregiving.

Current caregivers also contend with emotional burdens—39 percent said that caregiving impacted their emotional well-being. Forty-four percent of caregivers said that they felt tired and 37 percent reported feeling sadness “all the time or often.”

Caregiving often unintentionally becomes a backdrop to Americans’ failure to create financial and long-term care plans.

One-third of the respondents reported making no plans to care for a loved one or family member. Two-thirds of respondents haven’t discussed their own preferences for caregiving with family members, and seven out of 10 have not planned for their own long-term care needs.

Harris Poll surveyed U.S. residents aged 18 or older in November.