IT’S NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH

Español | Chances are, if you aren’t a family caregiver yourself, you know someone who is. Every day, Virgin Islanders help their parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, neighbors and other loved ones to live independently at home – where they want to be.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to highlight the important work these folks do. But simply thanking them isn’t enough. Here in the Virgin Islands and across the country, AARP is fighting to support family caregivers and the loved ones they care for.

In the VI, family caregivers provide many hours of unpaid care per year. They help their loved ones with medications and medical care, meals, bathing and dressing, chores and much more. It’s a role that can be stressful, exhausting and overwhelming.

That’s why AARP in The Virgin Islands is fighting for commonsense solutions to help make caregiving responsibilities a little bit easier.

Fighting for Family Caregivers in The Virgin Islands

At the legislature we are currently fighting to improve:

• The access of services and support for Caregivers. This includes passing legislation addressing Elder Abuse and to create an Advance Directive Registry.
  
• Age-Friendly Housing through the development of Assisted Living Communities and Medicare Certified Nursing Homes.

Fighting for a Family Caregiver Tax Credit and More

In Washington. D.C., AARP is fighting for the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which would provide an up to $5,000 federal tax credit for eligible working family caregivers, to help defray the cost of caring for an older parent, spouse, or other loved one.

The credit could help offset the costs of services like home care aides, adult daycare and respite care as well as home modifications like ramps and assistive technologies that make caregiving at home safer and easier. AARP is also advocating for a federal paid family and medical leave program to better support family caregivers who work full- or part-time.

Resources for Family Caregivers

AARP also offers free resources to help make caring for a loved one more manageable.

• AARP is here to help with information and resources on caregiver life balance, financial and legal issues, care at home, health and more. Visit aarp.org/caregiving to learn more.

• AARP’s Family Caregiving Resource Guides are FREE state specific guides that help family caregivers access key programs, services and agencies in their community. View the Virgin Islands guide here or call 1-877-333-5885 to have a copy mailed to you.

• AARP can help you learn more about whether care at home is the right option for you and your loved one. Visit aarp.org/careathome to learn more.

Family caregivers are the backbone of our care system. This National Family Caregivers Month, let’s give them the support they’ve earned.