The following piece was published in the Eugene Register Guard on October 19.

Caring about caregiving

We’ve all heard a lot about Joe Biden and Donald Trump over the last few weeks. But there’s one issue that isn’t getting as much attention as it deserves: caregiving.

About 70,000 Oregonians — roughly the population of Medford — work in long-term care, helping seniors and people with disabilities live with dignity. This year, COVID-19 has exposed deep flaws in our industry. We are overstretched, underpaid, undertrained and under-supported. Anyone who has worked in this industry or who has a family member in long-term care understands that this system isn’t working.

Biden has a caregiving plan that is groundbreaking, and it’s one of the central policies that he plans to tackle in his first 100 days. The plan would create 1.5 million new home- and community-based care jobs — jobs that can’t be outsourced or automated. It would raise wages and expand training to improve the quality of care. This would be life-changing for so many people.

Care workers like me were called “heroes” during the pandemic. Biden is one of the few people who backed that up with a plan to make our profession stronger. That’s why he has my vote.

Rebecca Sandoval, Medford