Caring for Those Who Care: AARP Virgin Islands and NRTA Host CAREversations During National Family Caregivers Month

Every day across the Virgin Islands, family caregivers show up for the people they love. They help parents, spouses, relatives, friends and neighbors navigate the everyday realities of aging, illness and changing needs. Often, they manage these responsibilities while balancing their own families, careers, health and personal commitments.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize these caregivers, honor the important role they play in our families and communities, and remind them that they do not have to navigate the caregiving journey alone.

This November, AARP Virgin Islands, in collaboration with NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community, will bring caregivers and community members together on St. Croix and St. Thomas for CAREversations: Caring Across Generations. These free community events are designed to create welcoming spaces where caregivers, future caregivers and advocates can share experiences, learn about helpful resources and build stronger connections with one another.

Retired educators are especially encouraged to attend. After spending careers teaching, mentoring and caring for generations of Virgin Islanders, many retired educators may now find themselves caring for a spouse, parent, family member or friend, or preparing for what caregiving could look like in the future.

CAREversations offers an opportunity to connect with others while gaining information and support that can help along the caregiving journey.
 

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Local Voices, Meaningful Conversations

At the heart of CAREversations are the people and experiences that make caregiving personal.

On St. Croix, featured speaker Tracy Sanders, RN, MN, CNS, President of Continuum Care, Inc., will bring her professional experience in care and support services to the conversation. She will be joined by community thought leader and caregiver Brad Nugent, offering participants both professional and personal perspectives on caregiving. The St. Croix conversation will be moderated by AARP VI caregiving volunteer Sandra Gerard.

On St. Thomas, the conversation will feature Dr. Germaine Owen and Dr. Muria Nisbett, with AARP volunteer Jacquelyn Clendinen serving as moderator.

Together, the speakers and moderators will help create an open conversation around the realities of caregiving, the importance of support and the resources that can help caregivers along the way.

More Than a Conversation

CAREversations is designed to be interactive and community-centered. Guests will have opportunities to ask questions, meet fellow caregivers and take part in activities that encourage meaningful conversation and connection.

Event features will include caregiver-themed name tags, a Conversation Starter Wall, caregiving resources, networking opportunities and peer-to-peer discussions.

The Conversation Starter Wall will invite participants to reflect on questions such as what caregiving has taught them and what challenges they would like help navigating.

The events will also feature a Caregiver Information Book activity, giving participants an opportunity to learn how to organize important caregiving information and resources in one place.

Combined with dedicated networking and connection time, these activities are intended to make CAREversations more than a traditional presentation. They create opportunities for caregivers to learn from one another, exchange experiences and leave knowing they are part of a larger community of support.