The Path Forward: Preserving, Strengthening, and Reimagining Care in the United States

In a dramatically changing policy environment, direct care workforce-focused investments and innovations are more important than ever—to improve the quality and efficiency of care, bolster the U.S. economy, and build a better future for people and families in every state. In this brief, we offer a direct account of both longstanding and current challenges and define an urgently needed path forward for state and federal policymakers. In Part One, we offer strategies to preserve our nation’s existing long-term care system and strengthen outcomes for all whose lives intersect with it. In Part Two, we offer proactive strategies to reimagine care and build a better future for direct care workers, older adults, people with disabilities, and all who rely on our nation’s care infrastructure.