Virginia Family Caregivers Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Virginia Family Caregivers Month

WHEREAS, family caregivers are essential to the health and well-being of Virginians at every age; and

WHEREAS, more than 980,000 Virginians provide regular care or assistance to a family member or friend with complex medical or support needs, and caregivers in Virginia provide unpaid care that is valued at $14.3 billion; and

WHEREAS, positive impacts of family caregiving include closer ties to loved ones, increased access to services in community settings, and peace of mind knowing quality care is being provided; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services received its Lifespan Respite Care Integration and Sustainability Grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living to provide respite vouchers to family caregivers, and since receiving the first grant in 2011, has assisted over 2,900 Virginia families; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, the Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program acknowledged the challenges of grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers, and extended the program to serve their respite needs; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Caregiver Coalition, founded in 2004, has nearly 200 volunteer members across the Commonwealth and works to improve the experience of caregiving through education, advocacy, access to resources, and by connecting caregivers to programs and information that allows them to make informed decisions about the best care for their loved ones; and

WHEREAS, during the month of November, it is important to recognize the many contributions of family caregivers and encourage health providers, employers, and all Virginia communities to acknowledge and support their efforts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 2024, as VIRGINIA FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.