Prediction: The Caregiving Question Harris and Trump Will Have to Address in the Presidential Debate

I am a caregiver. I’m also the CEO of a caregiving platform in America. My personal journey through caregiving opened my eyes to a national crisis hiding in plain sight. Soon, this crisis is about to take center stage in the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. (Yes, I am making a bold prediction here that the issue of caregiving and elder care is going to come up.)

You might be wondering, “What crisis?” Well, for those of you who’ve been too busy caring for a loved one to keep up with the news, we’re talking about a whopping 53 million Americans who provide unpaid care. That’s right, if caregivers were a state, they’d be the largest in the union. California? Texas? Cute. Welcome to the United States of Caregiving.

These 53 million Americans contribute about $600 billion worth of unpaid labor to our economy annually. For those keeping score at home, that’s more than the revenues of any of the biggest tech or pharma companies. They’re essentially running a shadow economy that keeps our healthcare system from collapsing, often at great personal cost.

I’m not just pontificating from an ivory tower here. I put my career on hold to care for my wife when she battled cancer. It’s the kind of real-world MBA that millions of Americans are unwittingly enrolling in every day.

Now, thanks to 25,000 petition signatures from the CareCantWait campaign, Harris and Trump will have to do more than kiss babies and make vague promises about the economy. They’ll have to address a crisis that’s affecting millions of voters right now. It’s about time.

So, what should we expect in this upcoming debate? If past performance is any indication, probably a lot of hemming and hawing. But here’s what we should demand from both candidates: concrete plans for paid family leave, Social Security credits for caregivers, and strategies to leverage technology in support of care work.

Innovators are already turning moonshot ideas into reality. AI-powered care matching platforms are connecting thousands of overwhelmed families with affordable care nationwide. Researchers are launching innovations powered by AI and neurotech to expand access to early screening and therapeutics. But private sector innovation isn’t enough. We need bold political action.

Here’s the kicker: this isn’t a partisan issue. Caregiving doesn’t check your voter registration before it upends your life. It’s an equal opportunity crisis that affects Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between.

So, as Harris and Trump take the stage, listen closely. Will they offer real solutions or just empty platitudes? Will they address the millions of Americans who’ve had to downshift their careers or leave their jobs entirely to care for loved ones? Or are they still stuck in a political playbook that’s woefully out of touch with reality?

Because here’s the thing: care is the work that makes all other work possible. It’s time our politics — and our economy — reflected that reality. The CareCantWait campaign has kicked in the debate door. Now it’s up to the candidates to show they’re worthy of 53 million votes.

Caregiving isn’t just a family issue — it’s a national economic imperative. These 53 million Americans are the roads and bridges of our healthcare system. They’re the unsung heroes keeping our nation running. It’s time we treated them as such.

As you watch the debate unfold, remember: we’re not just talking about policy. We’re talking about the future of healthcare innovation, the sustainability of our economy, and the values that define us as a nation. The candidate who grasps this — who can articulate a vision for an America where caregiving is valued and supported — may well be the one who captures the hearts and minds of this 53 million strong voting bloc.

Don’t just watch from the sidelines — make your voice heard. Call your representatives, share your caregiving stories, and demand that caregiving be at the forefront of our national agenda. Let’s transform this debate into the wake-up call America needs to finally take caregiving seriously — before the ticking time bomb of caregiver burnout explodes in our faces.

Photo: YinYang, Getty Images

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