AARP Massachusetts

FERRUM, Va. — A community-led park in Ferrum marked a major milestone on Friday, Sept. 12, with the grand opening of a new ADA-accessible trail, made possible through a $15,000 grant from AARP’s Community Challenge program.

AARP VI and the VI Department of Human Services will collaborate to host the third component of their Elder Justice Summit: Safeguarding Older Virgin Islanders, Supporting Caregivers, on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at My Brother’s Workshop Campus, St. Thomas, VI (behind Home Depot).

Learning and growing as a caregiver is a responsibility that is ongoing, and the caregiver’s self-care can be overlooked or buried beneath an avalanche of scheduled responsibilities. The question ‘what about me’ can often be viewed as a luxury item when continued support is a necessity. Discovering when to take time for self-care is a skill that requires development and must resonate at the heart of all caregivers. Learning how to take time for self-care may be challenged by several barriers, which may include limiting beliefs, adjusting to role reversals and implementing new structures for caring. Caregiving can also contribute to behavioral health concerns such as burnout, negative self-talk, depression, compassion fatigue and loneliness. In short, the journey of caregiving is a uniquely personal experience.

No matter where you are in the caregiver journey, these local agencies and organizations can help make the process easier

For the past three years, Beverly has cared for her husband at home. Once an accomplished machinist, he lives with Alzheimer’s, a condition that has slowly changed nearly every aspect of their daily lives.