AARP Virgin Islands Applauds Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. for Recognizing National Family Caregivers’ Month

Today, Troy De Chabert-Schuster, State Director of AARP Virgin Islands issued the following statement in response to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. for recognizing National Family Caregivers Month.

“On behalf of AARP’s 22,000 members age 50-plus in the Virgin Islands, I thank Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. for recognizing November as National Family Caregivers Month.

Today, 63 million Americans — including our own Virgin Islanders — step up as family caregivers, helping older parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently at home rather than in costly nursing homes. These everyday heroes hold up a broken long-term care system, managing medications, preparing meals, helping with bathing and dressing, and more. In the Virgin Islands alone, family caregivers provide thousands of hours of care each year, worth an exceptional amount in unpaid labor.

The toll is heavy: financially, physically, and emotionally. Most family caregivers work full or part-time jobs, and many must reduce their hours or quit their jobs entirely to make sure their loved one gets the care they need.

AARP Virgin Islands applauds Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. for shining a light on family caregivers this November. But more action is needed. That’s why AARP is pushing for commonsense solutions that help them save money and time and provide them with more support.”

AARP Virgin Islands is calling on territory lawmakers to advance commonsense solutions that will support family caregivers, including the Caregivers Leave Act (Bill 36-0086), which passed unanimously through the 36^th Legislature Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services on October 28, 2025. The next step for this progressive bill is a review by the Committee on Rules and Judiciary.