Apple News In Conversation Living longer should be a gift. Why doesn’t it feel that way?
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Sep 5, 2024 In this conversation, Ai-jen Poo, a prominent labor organizer and author specializing in elder care and workers' rights, discusses the pressing challenges of aging in America. She highlights the burdens on unpaid family caregivers amid a growing aging population. Poo advocates for better support systems and explores innovative care models, such as intergenerational daycare facilities. The dialogue emphasizes the need to redefine aging as a gift and the crucial role of community in enhancing caregiver and elder experiences.
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The Growing Aging Population
- By 2030, 20% of the US population will be over 65, increasing demand for elder care.
- Ai-jen Poo emphasizes the need to adapt culturally and systematically to support a dignified aging experience.
Defining Dignified Aging
- Ai-jen Poo defines dignified aging as living life on one's own terms with agency and connection.
- She highlights the universal nature of caregiving, stating everyone will both give and receive care at some point.
The Caregiving Workforce
- 53 million family caregivers in the US provide unpaid care, valued at nearly a trillion dollars annually.
- The professional care workforce, primarily women of color, faces low wages and high turnover rates.