Guadalupe Albarran arrived in the United States from a small town in Mexico in 1998, her heart heavy with hope but her pockets light. Speaking little English and with modest means, her aspirations were not just for herself but also for her family back in Mexico and the children she hoped to have.

Initially finding work in the affluent neighborhoods of Malibu, California, cleaning homes, Guadalupe's path eventually led her to Las Vegas. Now, as a housekeeper on the bustling Las Vegas Strip, she navigates a world that demands constant care for others — cleaning, organizing and ensuring comfort for those she may never meet.

Yet, it's her role outside of this public eye, as a caregiver for her ailing mother and previously for her late father, that unveils the depth of her commitment and sacrifice. 

Guadalupe's story, while uniquely hers, is not solitary. It mirrors a reality faced by countless individuals in Nevada and beyond — a reality where the lines between professional and personal care blur. As she juggles the demands of her job with the needs of her family, she embodies the dual roles many Americans find themselves in: workers by day and caregivers by night.

This duality is not just a personal challenge; it's a reflection of a broader crisis in our care infrastructure, one that an AARP report starkly highlights with its revelation that family caregivers in the U.S. contributed $600 billion in unpaid care last year. And it’s one that care workers — one of the largest growing sectors of the nation’s workforce — were thinking about as they cast their ballots in the weeks before the primary election and are considering ahead of the general election in November. 

Nevada stands at a crossroads, reflecting a national trend of escalating costs and diminishing support for caregivers. The state, grappling with one of the highest child care and elder care costs in the country, presents a microcosm of the national care crisis. For caregivers, the financial and emotional tolls are steep, with many facing impossible choices between the well-being of their loved ones and their own financial survival. 

The statistics are more than numbers; they're a wake-up call to the systemic undervaluation of care work. Domestic workers such as Guadalupe, who are three times as likely to live in poverty compared to other workers, bear the brunt of this crisis. They navigate an economy that relies heavily on their labor yet fails to acknowledge their worth, pushing them into a cycle of financial instability and emotional strain. 

Guadalupe's narrative is a poignant illustration of the unseen hands that power not only our economy, but now our politics. Since 2021, Guadalupe has been volunteering with Care in Action Nevada for herself and the countless women who share her story. She joins a coalition of women fighting for a future where their work is no longer invisible and where their families can thrive without the constant threat of financial ruin hanging over them. 

Guadalupe and her colleagues are heading to the polls in 2024, driven by the understanding that the very essence of care itself hangs in the balance. The Nevada primary wasn’t just any election; it was a critical moment highlighting what we stand to lose. We have a chance to steer the national conversation about care, advocating for policies that recognize its true value.

However, we're at a crucial turning point, with the care sector facing high turnover rates, jeopardizing the stability of the workforce. This election is a pivotal opportunity to ensure that care is treated with the importance it deserves. 

Our fight is not just about wages or benefits. It's about dignity. It's about recognizing our indispensable role in society and our politics and ensuring that families have equitable opportunities to thrive. As Guadalupe shares her story, we urge you to see the faces of the women behind the statistics. We are your neighbors, friends and the unseen hands that make your life possible. 

To the policymakers, community leaders and fellow Nevadans: the time for change is now. We must work together to build a future where no worker is invisible and every family can access affordable, quality care. Let's make the care agenda — paid leave, child care and pre-K, aging and disability care, and good jobs and wages for those providing care — a reality for Nevada and the entire nation. 

As Guadalupe perseveres in her dual roles as a domestic worker and caregiver, her resolve is our call to action — a reminder that the dignity of care work is the measure of our society's true worth. Together, we fight for a tomorrow where every caregiver's contribution is seen, valued, and honored. 

Guadalupe Albarran is a Las Vegas housekeeper and a Care in Action Nevada volunteer. 

Falasha Parlin-Watson is Care in Action’s Nevada state director. Care in Action advocates for more than 2 million domestic and care workers across America. 

The Nevada Independent welcomes informed, cogent rebuttals to opinion pieces such as this. Send them to [email protected].