My friends, neighbors and constituents know me as their state representative, a social worker, a knitter. What many do not know is that for the past few years, I’ve also been the primary caregiver for my parents.

A little over four years ago, my father’s health declined and I became his caregiver. My mother’s health was poor and worsened after my father’s death in May 2021. I am her caregiver now. It’s not easy. I’ve had to learn how to do bed transfers, run oxygen equipment, troubleshoot problems with various pieces of medical equipment, help my mom wash her hair and make her meals and what to do when she can’t keep food down.

I have had to leave three jobs because of my caregiving duties. The physical, emotional and financial stress is enormous. And I know I am not alone.

I have knocked on the doors of people going through the same thing. I’ve talked with seniors who are struggling to care for themselves and stay in their home. I have sat on the Health and Human Services Committee in the Legislature and listened to Mainers share their stories of needing help to care for their spouse or being so exhausted by caregiving that they neglect themselves. Some days that hit really close to home.

So when Vice President Harris announced her proposal for Medicare at Home, I confess, I cried. This would be a game-changer for me, my mom and so many other seniors and families.

Under Vice President Harris’ plan, Medicare insurance would cover the cost of home care for seniors, lowering costs for them and their families, letting seniors live at home in dignity and easing the stress and emotional burdens for loved ones.

Paid for by expanding Medicare drug price negotiations, Medicare at Home can help family caregivers work and save both families and the government money by allowing seniors to stay in their homes instead of going to nursing homes, which are often more expensive.

And honestly, my mother and other older Mainers like her deserve better. They deserve professional quality health care that meets their needs so they can stay in their homes. They deserve to be treated with dignity. And this must include access to home health care.

I’m not surprised Vice President Harris has offered such a game-changing proposal. She grew up middle class and she knows the challenges family members face when caring for our parents, because she experienced it herself taking care of her mom.

And she wants to do something about it.

So she’s offering another clear, detailed, common-sense plan to lower costs for seniors, for middle class families and for the so-called sandwich generation.

Whether she’s lowering prescription drug costs, reducing costs for folks who want to start a business or buy a home or taking on corporate price gouging to lower the costs of groceries, Kamala Harris is fighting for us.

She’s fighting for a future where we all have the opportunity to get ahead, where our parents can age with dignity at home, and where no one has to choose between going to work or caring for a family member.

And then there’s Donald Trump. His Project 2025 agenda would be devastating for Mainers, raising costs for us while helping billionaires and big corporations. When he was president, he tried to cut Social Security and Medicare by billions of dollars every single year he was in office. A second Trump administration would be even worse.

Let’s turn the page on Donald Trump and move forward with Kamala Harris and Medicare that meets seniors’ needs in 2024 – including home health care.

I am grateful beyond words for Vice President Harris’ understanding of this and her proposal. This will make an enormous difference to so many in Maine.

I urge you to join me in voting for Kamala Harris for president on or before Nov. 5.