I'm wondering if we have a care crisis in the United States.
I'm wondering if many Americans are stymied by the great costs of time and money that care costs, and I wonder if our nation takes this problem seriously enough.
When I was a child, most moms were home caring for children and the entire community including elderly and sick relatives. I believe that the women's movement did not take this into account as they fought for equal rights. They didn't realize that when most women went to work, there were few to none left in the community to care for the children and the elderly. Since then I've read a few articles that acknowlege that the women's movement, in large part, was led by privleged women who may have had access to hired help so they didn't realize the extraordinary role women in working class and poor communities were playing as they truly cared for the entire community.
So when women in working class and poor communities started working, few to none were left in the community to care for the children, physically/mentally challenges, and elderly. In my opinion, this weakened many communities and left many people without the supports they needed for good living.
I think we have to consider the care crisis with a serious attitude to make better in the United States. Reports from countries who have a higher standard of living than the United States show that these countries do take the care quotient seriously and do provide greater supports for optimal care for their citizens. We can do this, and the question is how can we do this? Many lawmakers are offering solutions and working for more supports--there has been some good movement in this direction. I'm thankful for that, and I think we all have to get involved and think about what we can do to uplift care for all members of our communities in affordable, accessible, quality ways.
What can I do?
First, I want to learn more about care options and policies in my community, the state, and nation.
Next, I want to utilize these supports to care for my loved ones.
And, after that, I want to get more involved in increasing the quality of and access to good care in a significant way.
I believe this is a conversation that all Americans have to get involved in. I believe it is a conversation that will unite us as when everyone is well cared for, our country will be stronger, happier, and better. What do you know in this regard? What do you need? And how can we increase quality, accessible care for all Americans in ways that matter?