By Mark Fukae, Founder, Caregiver Advocacy and Support Initiative (CASI) and Director of Advocacy for Professionals Who Care
Welcome to the latest article in our Caring for Change Series. In our “Hidden Truths” series, we’ve unflinchingly exposed the systemic issues burdening caregivers, from outdated workplace standards to the invisible labor shouldered by millions. As part of CASI’s ongoing commitment to actively transform the care economy, this article explores a powerful truth: despite political divisions, Americans across the spectrum are united in their desire for a stronger, more affordable care economy. This rare consensus, highlighted by a groundbreaking new study, isn’t just encouraging—it’s the fuel for the concrete solutions CASI is championing, namely, our proposed Federal and Colorado CARE Acts.
The Lingering Problem: Where Reality Clashes with Expectations
The landscape we’ve explored in our “Hidden Truths” series—where workplaces often operate on an outdated model, ignoring modern family structures and economic pressures—isn’t just theoretical; it’s the daily reality for countless caregivers. The lack of affordable care options, insufficient support systems, and the persistence of unrealistic workplace standards contribute significantly to caregiver burnout, financial strain, and systemic discrimination. The persistent question has always been: how do we break through the political gridlock to enact meaningful, widespread change?
A Resounding Call for Action: The Johns Hopkins Study Finds Bipartisan Consensus
Recent research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a compelling answer. In a study published on June 10, 2025, using data from the CLIMB (COVID-19 and Life, with Impacts across Mental and Behavioral Health) research team, their findings reveal overwhelming bipartisan agreement on strengthening the nation’s care economy.
More than four in five U.S. adults support making long-term care more affordable. Specifically, 79% back reduced facility costs, and 75% endorse expanded home-based services. Even investments in the paid caregiving workforce garnered 78.3% support, with 77.3% backing the elimination of asset-depletion requirements for long-term care eligibility. Even historically “divisive” policies like paid family leave (65.4%) and financial compensation for family caregivers (61.2%) garnered majority support across the board.
“Caregiving responsibilities are increasingly common, and they don’t fall along partisan lines,” observed lead author Kate Miller, PhD, an assistant professor of health policy and management at the Bloomberg School. “Our findings show that while political affiliation shapes which policies people support most strongly, there is clear and consistent public demand for action to address the affordability and accessibility of care.”
Co-author Catherine Ettman, PhD, powerfully added, “Family caregivers are the invisible backbone of our long-term care system… This study helps clarify that Americans across the political spectrum want to see more support for family caregivers.”
(Reference: Culli, L. (2025, June 10). Despite Political Divisions, U.S. Adults Across Parties Back Affordable Care, Support for Caregivers. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management. [Insert actual URL of the article here when available])
Our Path Forward: The Federal and Colorado CARE Acts – Solutions for a United Front
This widespread public demand provides a critical “policy window” for the comprehensive solutions we at Professionals Who Care (PWC) and the Caregiver Advocacy and Support Initiative (CASI) have been tirelessly advocating for: the Federal and Colorado CARE Acts. These legislative proposals are meticulously crafted to align directly with the policies Americans overwhelmingly support:
- Making Care Affordable: Our CARE Acts aim to dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs for both facility-based and home-based long-term care, making quality care accessible to more families without financial devastation. This directly addresses the 79% and 75.4% support for affordability.
- Expanding Home-Based Services: We prioritize investments that expand access to home- and community-based care, empowering individuals to receive care in familiar surroundings and easing the burden on family caregivers. This aligns with the 75.4% support for home-based care.
- Strengthening the Paid Caregiving Workforce: Our proposals include provisions for fair wages, benefits, and training for professional caregivers, recognizing them as essential pillars of our care infrastructure and attracting much-needed talent. This directly mirrors the 78.3% endorsement for workforce investment.
- Protecting Personal Assets: The Acts address asset-depletion requirements, ensuring families aren’t forced into poverty to qualify for essential care, aligning with the 77.3% who back this policy.
- Supporting Family Caregivers: Even for policies with narrower, but still majority, support, our Acts recognise the fundamental need for paid family leave and direct compensation for family caregivers, reflecting the undeniable value of their unpaid labor.
Beyond the Divisions: A Shared Vision for Tomorrow’s Care Economy
Historically, federal care reforms have faced steep uphill battles, often falling victim to political polarization. However, this new research offers undeniable evidence that the political will can be galvanized. The study’s authors suggest prioritizing policies with the strongest bipartisan support—affordability, protecting assets, and workforce development—precisely the cornerstones of our CARE Act proposals. It’s clear that investing in the care economy isn’t just about supporting today’s caregivers; as Dr. Miller emphasizes, “it’s about preparing for tomorrow’s needs”—a future where over half of non-caregivers in the study expect to step into caregiving roles.
At PWC and CASI, we believe this study marks our moment to transcend political divides. The voice of the American public is clear: they want a stronger, more affordable care system. Our Federal and Colorado CARE Acts offer that path forward, turning the insights from our “Hidden Truths” series into actionable, bipartisan solutions for the future of care in America.
Your Voice Matters. Take Action!
This overwhelming consensus gives us unprecedented leverage for Caring for Change.
- Learn more about the Federal & Colorado CARE Acts and their provisions: [Link to CASI page explaining CARE Acts]
- Support Our Advocacy and add your voice to the movement by signing our petition: https://chng.it/zHbMzKnBwJ
- Revisit the “Hidden Truths” series to understand the full scope of challenges we’re addressing: [Link to Hidden Truths Series Page]