Caregiving

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.

AARP Offers Tips and Resources to Help

Feeling stressed? Reset your expectations and enjoy the little moments

Caregiving is a natural part of the cycle of life. Allowing ourselves space for self-care is one of the most important tasks in our curriculum for living. When was the last time that you set out on an adventure of deep self-care? At its core caregiving is an ever-evolving cycle of balancing self-care and caring for others. Sadly, limited attention is provided across media platforms, about the necessity of caregiving and self-care.

Guardianship reform under the UGCOPPA act can transform the lives of Virgin Islanders. AARP VI is urging our elected officials to pass the Uniform Guardianship Act. The hearing for the Guardianship Reform Bill presented by AARP is set for hearing on May 24th in the Virgin Islands Legislature. This bill will protect and empower Virgin Islanders to have greater agency in their individual rights.