John Nichols reports for The Nation on President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan, which is designed to address America’s failing infrastructure. Billions would go to bridges, roads and other public transportation engines. Wisely, billions would also go to fund America’s failing long-term care infrastructure, supporting at home and community care.
Joe Biden’s plan calls for Congress to allocate $400 billion to ensure the availability of more affordable home and community-based care. The goal is to foster a more humane life for hundreds of thousands of Americans. In the process, it will create hundreds of thousands more jobs for caregivers, along with better wages and benefits. Today, one in six care workers live in poverty.
Right now, about four million people turn 65 every year. As they age, they often need help caring for themselves. But, the US offers precious little in the way of long-term supports and services, except for some people on Medicaid–and often people cannot access that care because they don’t meet the strict eligibility criteria or their state has a long waiting list. Medicare pays for only a small amount of nursing home care and home care, and only in limited situations.
President Biden’s team recognizes that “increasing the pay of direct care workers greatly enhances workers’ financial security, improves productivity, and increases the quality of care offered.”
Specifically, Biden’s plan will expand access to home and community-based services under Medicaid. It will also pay for caregiving jobs with benefits, and will enable collective bargaining and union membership for workers. The question is will Congress support it?
If all goes well, the Biden administration will build on these benefits. Older adults and people with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid also need help paying for at home and community-based care. And, families need paid family and medical leave. We have a long way to go to build a more humane society.
Here’s more from Just Care:
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