Advocacy in Action - The Next Step - Beyond Revenue Neutrality - The PWC Blueprint for a Dignified Care Future

Advocacy in Action: The PWC Blueprint for a Dignified Care Future - reframing caregiving as a strategic investment, not a cost.

By Mark Fukae, Director of Advocacy, Professionals Who Care (PWC) | Founder, Caregiver Advocacy and Support Initiative (CASI)

The Infrastructure Arc

This article is the final installment in my Advocacy in Action: The Infrastructure Arc series, which explores the foundational principles of the Universal Caregiver Bill of Rights-Integration, Equity, and Sustainability.

From Policy to Personal: Why This Work Matters to the Bottom Line

At Professionals Who Care (PWC), we speak the language of business: productivity, retention, and return on investment. In the first two parts of this series, we established the staggering economic cost of unsupported caregiving-a loss that drains $44 billion from U.S. businesses annually[^8][^9]-and introduced the revenue-neutral Federal and Colorado CARE Acts as the fiscally responsible solution.

But for me, this work is more than economic policy; it’s personal. Like millions of others, I’ve navigated the profound challenges of caring for family. I’ve witnessed the impossible choices caregivers are forced to make between their careers, their financial stability, and the unconditional love they give. That lived experience is the engine driving our relentless focus on solutions that work for both business and families.

Now, we move past the why and the how of legislation, and look toward the what’s next: a comprehensive blueprint for transforming the caregiver experience, both in policy and in practice.

From Law to Lived Experience: The Impact of the CARE Acts

Passing the CARE Acts is the critical first step toward formalizing support for the 63 million family caregivers nationwide. Once implemented, the core provisions of these acts immediately translate into significant business benefits:

• Workplace Protection: By guaranteeing reasonable accommodations and banning caregiver discrimination, we stabilize the employment of valuable, talented individuals. This directly mitigates the productivity loss businesses currently absorb.

• Economic Stability: The projected $5.3 billion net positive economic impact of the Federal CARE Act[^6] isn't just a number; it represents a decrease in reliance on federal programs and an increase in tax revenue from better workforce retention.

• Foundational Dignity: These acts create a legal framework that recognizes the caregiver - the invisible pillar of our economy-allowing policies to move from reactive patches to systemic support.

The CARE Acts are not the finish line. They are the foundation.

Introducing the Universal Care Continuum: The PWC Blueprint

The CARE Acts are the necessary "baby steps," but our ultimate vision, championed by our sister organization, CASI, is the creation of a Universal Care Continuum. I know from experience that a flexible schedule is only part of the answer; caregivers need a complete system around them to truly thrive. This Continuum is that system.

It shifts our thinking from transactional aid to a comprehensive, human-centered framework that covers every stage of the care journey. It involves three integrated, strategic layers:

1. Policy & Protections (The Foundation): Formalizing and enforcing the CARE Acts to provide clear legal workplace support and non-discrimination.

2. Community & Resources (The Support Structure): Building local, accessible support networks-training, respite, mental health services - to mitigate the personal cost borne by caregivers, which can run thousands out of pocket annually.[^7]

3. Financial Equity (The Apex): Moving toward our ultimate goal: recognizing the profound economic value of unpaid caregiving and achieving a living wage for the essential work performed by family caregivers.

This Continuum is not a partisan wish list; it’s an economic strategy. The bipartisan collaboration that grounds the revenue-neutral approach of the CARE Acts proves that we can achieve transformative social good through fiscally sound policy.

It’s an investment that pays dividends, translating directly into $17.4M - $69.4M in annual savings for businesses in states like Colorado alone due to reduced turnover.[^3]

Caregiving is not a private burden; it is a fundamental societal function that requires a collective, strategic investment. The successful implementation of the CARE Acts is the essential bridge to building the Universal Care Continuum- a future where all caregivers can provide care with dignity, security, and the comprehensive support they deserve.

Continue the Conversation: Subscribe for Deep-Dive Analysis

This concludes the Advocacy in Action: The Infrastructure Arc series. The next chapter begins with detailed analysis of the Universal Care Continuum and the Living Wage Vision- a future where caregiving is not only recognized but valued, protected, and sustained.

To get the full blueprint, legislative updates, and exclusive economic analysis, subscribe to the official Substack of our Director of Advocacy, Mark Fukae:

👉 [SUBSCRIBE HERE] The Revenue Neutral Caregiver

References

[^3]: Bell Policy Center. (2025, May 1). The state of aging in Colorado 2025.

[^6]: National Academy for State Health Policy. (2024). National strategy to support family caregivers progress and impact report 2024.

[^7]: Family Caregiver Alliance. (2023). Caregiving and Employment: Work-Life Compatibility.

[^8]: Forbes. (2025, June 25). The $157 Billion Caregiving Crisis.

[^9]: Harvard Business Review. (2025, June). Why Caregiving Costs U.S. Employers $157 Billion.