Everything Happens with Kate Bowler America’s Caregiving Crisis: A Conversation with Ai-jen Poo
Sep 30, 2025
Ai-jen Poo, an award-winning organizer and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, dives into America's caregiving crisis. She reveals that over 100 million Americans are currently caregivers and discusses the true costs of supporting loved ones within a broken system. Poo highlights the historical inequities faced by domestic workers and advocates for a policy overhaul akin to Social Security, emphasizing dignity and agency for all caregivers. Their conversation also touches on finding joy amidst the struggles of caregiving and the vital role of immigrant labor in this essential workforce.
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An Added Generation Of Care Need
- The U.S. has added an entire generation onto lifespan without changing policy, creating unprecedented care demand.
- This demographic shift means far more long-term care is needed while infrastructure remains inadequate.
Caregiving Is Nearly Universal
- 105.6 million Americans are family caregivers right now, about one-third of the population engaged in care tasks.
- Many households face the 'panini' squeeze of caring for children and aging relatives simultaneously.
Caregiving Demographics Are Changing
- Most caregivers are women but men and youth caregiving are growing fast, with 38% of caregivers male and 6 million youth caregivers.
- Care expectations are shifting, widening the demographics who shoulder care work.
