By Mary Welander
State Rep., D-114
Mary Welander
Over the past few years, we have seen a much-needed shift in the legislature’s priorities. Often an overlooked demographic in the eyes of policy makers, the vital role of “care” professions and professionals are taking their rightful place center stage.
The pandemic exposed weak points and inequities spanning various industries, but as the years went on, it became impossible to ignore the economic, community and cultural necessity of these professions that have largely been ignored: child care, nursing, teaching, elder care and nursing home care givers.
I hope it’s not misplaced nostalgia, but I remember these careers being treated with respect and admiration, where individuals would create lifelong careers caring for and supporting our more vulnerable members of society. I know that many of us still do admire and value these professionals, but it is clear not everyone shares these values.
Meetings, public hearings, studies and personal stories have illustrated an alarming shift in how care professionals are experiencing complex, life-threatening changes in their careers with no easy solutions.
Nurses and teachers are leaving the profession in concerningly high numbers – not because they don’t care anymore, but because of the generational impact of low salaries, increasingly toxic and unsafe working spaces and general devaluing of the work that they do. Early childhood educators and child care providers are struggling to stay open because of staffing shortages linked to chronically low wages. Simultaneously, families are struggling to pay for increasingly higher child care costs. Even basic elder care is often only available to those who can pay the rapidly rising rates associated with it.
These women-dominated professions are quite literally the linchpins of our society.
If we want our economy to thrive then we need safe, abundant and affordable child care. In addition to state assistance, partnering with larger businesses and corporations to provide more on-site, flexible, affordable child care is a smart economic move. An April 2022 Forbes article spoke about the high return on investment that offering child care would bring in the recruitment and retention of employees, and the overall success of the company.
Another aspect to ensure community success is a supported and valued public school system. We need to allow our teachers – experts in education with multiple highly specialized degrees – to teach without fear and be treated with respect.
If we want our society to be one of dignity, then we need to ensure that seniors are cared for respectfully. Increased oversight of nursing homes and assisted living communities is critical, as well as the expansion of services that allow seniors to “age in place” in their own homes.
If we want a healthy existence, then we need to have balanced, safe, supportive, and adaptive health care facilities. Nurses need to know they are protected at work from violence and that any new policies are realistically implementable and enforceable.
There are no easy answers to any of these problems, but we are working collaboratively with care professionals to find comprehensive solutions. Please share any feedback you have at mary.welander@cga.ct.gov.