Who Will Take Care of Me When I Get Old?

The pandemic forced us to confront many previously unacknowledged societal issues, including the lack of infrastructure we have to support those who need care and those who give it. As COVID-19 deaths near one million in America, the time has come to address the caregiving crisis in this country. There are nearly 50 million unpaid family caregivers and 4.5 million paid home care aides in America, yet they remain largely invisible. Andy explores that dichotomy with Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Caring Across Generations, and Randy Klein, CEO of Vesta Healthcare. They discuss why this work is historically undervalued and what we can all do to help change that. Plus, how to plan for the care you will likely need or give in your life, and what Build Back Better could do to support caregivers.

Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt.

Follow Ai-jen on Twitter @aijenpoo.

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Check out these resources from today’s episode:

• Read more about what Build Back Better would do to improve caregiving in America: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/12/fact-sheet-build-back-better-investments-in-care-will-boost-economic-growth-and-help-businesses-thrive/
• Learn more about the advocacy organization Caring Across Generations: ​​https://caringacross.org/
• Check out the Care Can’t Wait summit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/263157082636004
• Find a COVID-19 vaccine site near you: https://www.vaccines.gov/
• Order Andy’s book, Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165

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