Caregiving

On November 10, 2025, Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. signed Act 9051, which amends title 34 of the Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15, expanding the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Protection Act. Act 9051 was approved by the Virgin Islands Legislature on October 30, 2025. AARP Virgin Islands State Director Troy de Chabert-Schuster testified before the 36th Virgin Islands Legislature in support of amendments to the territory’s Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act (Bill 36-0099).

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.

AARP in the Virgin Islands is backing legislation by territory Sen. Novelle E. Francis Jr. (D) that would give full-time government employees up to four hours of paid caregiving leave each month.

On October 28, 2025, Troy de Chabert-Schuster proudly testified before the 36th Legislature's Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services, championing important amendments to the Caregivers Leave Act (Bill No. 36-0086). This proposed legislation is an exciting step forward, ensuring that all full-time employees of the Government of the Virgin Islands, including those working with independent boards, commissions, and agencies, receive four hours of administrative leave every month to fulfill their essential caregiving responsibilities for a seriously ill spouse, child, parent, or any legal dependent.

On October 28, 2025, Troy de Chabert-Schuster will testify before the 36th Legislature in support of amendments to the Caregivers Leave Act (Bill 36-0086). This legislation proposes that all full-time employees of the Government of the Virgin Islands—including those employed by independent boards, commissions, agencies, autonomous and semi-autonomous agencies, and other instrumentalities of the Government—who are the primary caregivers for a seriously ill spouse, child, parent, or any individual who is a legal dependent of the employee, be entitled to four hours of administrative leave per month for caregiving duties.

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

On Friday, September 19th, 2025, AARP Virgin Islands State Director Troy De Chabert-Schuster, is set to testify before the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands in support of amendments to the territory’s Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act (Bill 36-0099).

Join AARP Virgin Islands on 4/26 for an engaging, interactive CAREversation that touches on emotional and mental well-being of caregivers.