In this episode, we sit down with Robert Espinoza, a national leader in caregiving, equity, and aging, for a powerful conversation that every HR professional, business leader, and working caregiver needs to hear. With personal stories and deep policy insight, Robert walks us through the systemic gaps in the long-term care system, the challenges facing our care workforce, and the real-life impact of underfunding the care economy. His message is clear: caregiving touches all of us, and we have the power to create change right where we are.

We also dive into what a thriving, sustainable care economy could look like in the future—one that respects care workers, empowers working caregivers, and ensures continuity of care for our aging population. Whether you’re in HR looking to better support your team, or a caregiver trying to navigate your dual responsibilities, this episode will leave you feeling seen, informed, and inspired to act.

Robert Espinoza is a prominent advocate and thought leader in the fields of workforce, aging, and caregiving. He is a Distinguished Fellow and Senior Advisor at the National Academy of Social Insurance, where he leads efforts to build broad, nonpartisan support for a sustainable long-term care system that meets the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and the care workforce. He is also a Leadership & Society Fellow at the University of Chicago. He previously served as CEO of National Skills Coalition, a bipartisan, DC-based policy organization focused on workforce issues, and as Executive Vice President of Policy at PHI, the nation’s leading authority on the direct care workforce, where he directed for nearly a decade the organization’s award-winning national advocacy, research, and public education division. In addition, Robert served as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] - Robert opens with two sides of the care story: what happens when care is undervalued vs. fully supported
[1:37] - Selma and Zack introduce Robert Espinoza and kick off the conversation
[4:07] - Robert shares his personal caregiver story and how it shaped his advocacy
[6:13] - What is the care economy and how does it impact all of us?
[8:13] - Zack discusses the aging population and asks where societal opportunities lie
[12:31] - Robert on how employers should rethink benefits and training to support working caregivers
[19:08] - What HR should start measuring to plan for the rise in working caregivers
[22:04] - Creating a lived culture of care, not just policies
[23:07] - Tips for employees to fully utilize benefits and open lines of communication with HR
[33:26] - The undervaluation of direct care workers and the need for compensation reform
[35:17] - Robert’s call to action: understand your care story and start where you have influence

Links & Resources:

• A question of care podcast: https://www.aquestionofcare.us/
• Caregiving in the US 2025: https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/caregiving-in-the-us-2025/
• Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employee podcast episode 23 Grief, Caregiving, and the Power of Connection – with Leslie Weirich: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401927/episodes/17656188

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.