INTHEBLACK February / March 2026 - Magazine - Page 23
where investments can be made that deliver not
just monetary returns but broader social returns
as well.”
In a nod to his background as a CFO
in the not-for-profit sector, Nasrallah has
no doubt that accountants “who care about
people and resident outcomes” can have an
impact in delivering a thriving care economy.
Blackberry believes accountants and
financial planners also have a key role
to play in ensuring that elderly people
plan properly in advance of entering
a care environment, rather than waiting
until they are ailing. “If you’re a financial
planner or accountant, you need to help
your clients to plan for a much longer
life without earning any income.”
RETHINKING VALUES AND VALUE
Ultimately, the care economy represents
a social contract and a growth opportunity.
Governments and investors that recognise
this dual value will be better positioned
to meet the demographic and ethical
challenges of the coming decades.
Bharathi says that there are still many
care workers who work long hours
without adequate pay or social security.
“Decent work for all care workers is
critical. It contributes to quality care, to the
recruitment and retention of workers and
to the promotion of gender equality, while
building resilient societies and economies,
and counteracting a shortage of workers.”
She notes that the 2024 International
Labour Conference of the ILO adopted
the Resolution on decent work and the care
economy, which emphasises a role for more
public–private partnerships to meet growing
demands from ageing populations and
increased childcare needs.
As Dawson considers the future of the
care economy, she encourages societies to take
a broader view of the economic contribution of
people — whether it is measuring how much a
child contributes economically over the course
of their lifetime, or how much can be gained by
freeing up women from domestic labour.
“It is also about recognising that, in itself,
having people live longer, happier, more
enjoyable and more secure lives is surely the
very purpose of the economy. We need to
take it back to that foundational question:
‘What is the economy for?’ If it is to make
our lives better, quality care is foundational
to that.” ■
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