Final answer:
The percent of LTC provided by friends and family members is 60 percent. Many caregivers are employed and balance work with caregiving, showing a reliance on informal care despite difficulties in providing full-time support.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of long-term care (LTC) in the United States, friends and family play a substantial role. Despite many middle-class families struggling to afford professional healthcare, a significant proportion of LTC is provided informally by friends and family members. According to research by Bookman and Kimbrel in 2011, when it comes to providing care to elderly family members, 60 percent of family caregivers are also employed and may not be available to offer the needed support all the time. This reveals the challenge whereby even those willing to provide support must balance employment with caregiving responsibilities, highlighting a heavy reliance on informal care by family and friends despite the challenges it entails.