Dear John,

We’re in a care crisis right now.

We know the word crisis gets thrown around a lot, but in the case of care, we are truly at a make or break moment. Families across the country can’t afford child care or in-home care for their aging parents, care workers aren’t paid enough and are leaving the industry, and millions of disabled Americans are on waiting lists to receive the care they need to live with dignity.

This care crisis is urgent, John. Let me explain more.

90% of older adults and 95% of disabled people prefer to receive care in their homes and communities. But that kind of care is out of reach for too many people and families.

No matter who we are, we all deserve access to care that allows us to live and age with dignity.

Most people who are unable to get home- and community-based services (HCBS) for themselves or their family members say they can't afford it. And families wait over 3 years on average to access Medicaid services that would allow them to receive HCBS.

On top of that, workers across the country don’t have access to paid leave that would allow them to care for themselves and their loved ones. In 2022, only about 1 in 4 employees in the private sector workforce had access to paid family leave. The numbers are even lower among low-wage workers, part-time workers, and workers in the service industry.

Families are also facing a child care crisis, with costs rising to over $15,000 a year. These kinds of astronomical prices put child care out of reach for millions of families. And over half of families in the U.S. live in child care deserts: areas that do not even have enough child care capacity to meet the needs of families.

The numbers just don’t add up for most families, and they don’t work for care workers either. Nearly every state has reported a shortage of direct care workers. But with low wages and nearly nonexistent benefits, 40% of care workers – a workforce that is primarily made up of women of color – live in poverty.

Our care system is broken, and needs to change.

The truth is that care affects EVERYONE, no matter who you are or where you live. Everyone will give or receive care at some point in their lives. Care shouldn’t be a personal responsibility – what we need is a care system that works for all of us.

Right now, 53 million people in the U.S. are unpaid family caregivers – making up nearly 20% of our society. Each and every day, these caregivers – predominantly women and specifically women of color – are making sure their loved ones are fed, taken to appointments, taking their medicine, and getting all the care they need.

Care work is real work – and it needs to be valued as such.

Families across the country are having kitchen table conversations about care – we’re bringing those conversations to the highest halls of power to advocate for the better care system we need now.

We’re fighting for paid leave for all, accessible aging and disability care, and affordable child care for all families, as well as real pay and benefits for the care workers who make it all possible.

You can join that fight now by making a donation, John. Donate now to help build the power we need to win the care that we all deserve. [[link removed]]

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With care,

Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns & Advocacy
Caring Across Generations

A gift to Caring Across Generations helps us win affordable child care, paid leave, and accessible long-term home and community care for all. Because #CareCantWait for families in the US.

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