My caregiving journey started at 16, growing up as a Jamaican teenager in the Bronx. It wasn’t planned, and it definitely wasn’t paid. Miss Lacona, an elderly Panamanian woman in my neighborhood, caught me skipping school one day and gave me a choice: take care of her or deal with my parents. Let’s just say, if you’re Caribbean, you already know there wasn’t much of a choice to make.

What started as a chore turned into one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Miss Lacona wasn’t just a “task” to me—she was a teacher. She showed me what resilience looked like, and I got to see the quiet strength of an older generation. I learned how she liked her morning coffee (always with just the right amount of condensed milk), how much she loved the songs of her youth, and how the world she grew up in shaped the person she became.

But it wasn’t all rosy. Caregiving is hard. There were moments when I didn’t understand her frustration or her silence, and moments when I had to learn patience the hard way. Looking back, those moments were lessons I carry with me to this day. I didn’t know then that caregiving could be a paid role, or that it could open doors to opportunities.

Fast forward, I see programs like Consumer Directed Care that allow family caregivers to earn an income, and it just clicks for me. Caregiving isn’t just about helping someone—it’s about learning, growing, and setting yourself up for life. It’s about investing in your family while building a legacy for yourself.

Tips for Young Caregivers

1. Honor Their Traditions: Care isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal and often cultural. For Miss Lacona, it was about her morning routine, her love of Spanish hymns, and the way she’d reminisce about the good old days. Start by respecting what matters most to them.
2. Listen and Learn: The older generation has a wealth of wisdom. Miss Lacona taught me more through her stories and routines than I could ever imagine. Lean in and listen—you’ll be surprised by how much they have to share.
3. Pay Attention to the Details: Caregiving isn’t always about big gestures. It’s knowing how they like their tea or which stories they never get tired of telling. Those little things? That’s where the connection grows.
4. Approach it as a Legacy: In Caribbean families, caregiving isn’t just about duty—it’s about honoring those who came before you. When you approach it with that mindset, it becomes a privilege, not a burden.