Virginia Grant, founder of Assurance, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting caregivers, is on a mission to change the way caregivers experience their role. Her latest effort is the Caregiver Festival — a free event taking place on April 18th at the Senior Recreation Center from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Designed to support and connect caregivers, attendees can expect live entertainment, games, prizes, food, giveaways, and real resources that can make the caregiving journey a little less overwhelming.
Virginia’s path into caregiving started when her sister suffered an anoxic brain injury at just 45. Virginia brought her home and cared for her for four and a half years. That experience taught her one essential truth: caregivers need to stop just surviving and start actually living.
“I do not want caregivers to endure. I do not want them to just survive. I want them to enjoy,” she says. “A caregiver makes one of the most noble decisions in life — you deserve to enjoy it.”
The festival will bring together a wide range of local organizations so caregivers can find what they need in one place, and Elder Options is one of them. Our Caregiver Training and Support Team will be on hand to share tools and guidance to help caregivers navigate their journey with more confidence and less stress.
Loved ones are welcome at the event, but if you have concerns about bringing them or need a little extra support to make it work, Assurance may be able to help connect you with the right resources. Reach out to Assurance directly, their information is below.
Grants’ hope is that caregivers leave the day feeling connected — not just to resources, but to each other. “I want them to meet other caregivers,” she says. “We need to support one another.”
The Caregiver Festival is April 18, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Senior Recreation Center, 5701 Northwest 34th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL 32653
Register at Eventbrite or contact Virginia directly: 352-208-4894 vgrant@assurancegnv.org
