Ben Veghte

WA Cares Fund Director | MIT Fellow | ASA Board Member | Care Guild Innovator | International Social Policy Scholar; Jules' dad; European historian by training

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

Intereseted in what #WACares is, how it works, why it was enacted, and why it is solvent -- check out this conversation between Austin Jenkins, myself and our State Actuary, Matthew Smith on Inside Olympia: https://t.co/pJ6UtBHd4x #longtermcare @ASAging

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

Washington State Retools First-in-the-Nation Long-Term Care Benefit https://t.co/fyKw51fTRn via @khnews

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

Washington State's universal long-term care insurance fund will provide a critical benefit to Washingtonians https://t.co/9sT2DXmCVx #longtermcare

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

Over the past decade the Ford Foundation has cultivated and invested in the care movement. It is a paradigmatic success story in how philanthropy can support and spur social change. And more work lies ahead: https://t.co/A7qYSMHmdi #CareCantWait

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

As states embark on the design of universal #longtermcare programs here, much can be learned from decades of experience with such programs abroad. Read my new policy brief based on original research in Germany and other countries: https://t.co/ZdD33Szqe8 @socialinsurance

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

Thank you to @FordFoundation for making such a strong investment in our care infrastructure. We need public policies that make it easier for family caregivers to support their loved ones without compromising their financial security. #CareCantWait

[Ford Foundation @FordFoundation]

BREAKING NEWS: Ford joins seven powerhouse funders in launching #TheCAREFund to address the nation's care crisis. We will invest $50 million over 5 years in movement-building for a universal, publicly supported care infrastructure because #CareCantWait.

https://t.co/Bokbaoe9i7

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving @CaringAcrossGen Thank you @caregiving and all who joined the chat!

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@URipple2013 @caregiving @aijenpoo @nytimes Yes @URipple2013 a plan is needed. The Washington State model is a good one to build on. Universal paid family and medical leave is also important, and 8 states plus DC have that now. #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@URipple2013 @caregiving @aijenpoo @nytimes Yes something has to give #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving @aijenpoo @nytimes Families have changed, we are demanding greater gender and racial equity, and most families need all adults working to make ends meet. We cannot compete globally unless women can contribute to our economy to the fullest extent of their abilities. #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving In Washington State our policies value care work including family care work. $16.72/hr is the starting wage for individual provider caregivers. This includes family members. #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving A study by Metlife found that the average person who leaves the workforce early to care for an older family member sacrifices around $300,000 in lifetime earnings and retirement benefits: https://t.co/QqwWZ3njly #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving It's hard caring for people outside our family and it can be even harder caring for people we love. No one does care work unless they want to help people. But we should not assume that those who provide care do not need economic security and dignity. #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving Other states are considering pursuing universal LTSS programs like the one in Washington State. #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@beans524 @caregiving No. It can be used to hire a home care worker, to pay a loved one caring for you, to put grab bars in the bathroom, get meals delivered, etc. #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving It supports families in 3 ways: it provides affordable LTC insurance to all workers; provides them peace of mind that they will have care when they need it; and gives people choice regarding what kind of care they want as they age -- family or professional care #carechat

[Ben Veghte @benveghte]

@caregiving In 2019, Washington State enacted the first universal long-term services and supports (LTSS) program in the United States. #carechat 1/2