A Sister’s Promise: Changing The Paradigm of Caregiving – Meaning, Purpose, and Positive Memories.

Did you know that in a neighborhood of 100 houses, at least five families are caring for a loved one? Most of these families don’t even know that just a few streets away, someone is facing similar challenges — someone who could share tips on advocating to medical staff, navigating insurance companies, or simply a listening ear or a brief respite.

Project Ownership had the opportunity to connect with Virginia Grant, a visionary leader building supportive communities where caregivers, their lifelines, and loved ones can learn, grow, and create positive memories together. Her mission is clear: To show caregivers that they matter, too — and that caring for others doesn’t have to result in losing yourself in the process.

What inspired Virginia to become an owner, and how did she get started?

Virginia’s journey began with a promise. Several years ago, her sister suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and was on life support. Virginia promised her sister that if she were able to come off life support, she would take care of her. Her sister was able to come off life support after two months, and she kept that promise and moved her sister into her home. For four years, until her sister’s passing, Virginia served as her sister’s full-time caregiver.

During that time, Virginia met many other caregivers. She quickly learned about the stress, challenges, and even fractured family relationships that caregiving often brings. Some caregivers, she discovered, became so overwhelmed they neglected their own health — sometimes passing away before the loved one they were caring for.

Virginia’s story was different. Looking back, she recognizes the impact of her strong support system, which she lovingly calls her “lifelines.” With their help, she was able to not just survive caregiving, but live life through it — loving on her sister, creating beautiful memories with her, and even moments of joy in the midst of challenges.

When Virginia lost her job while caring for her sister, she knew it would be her last time working for anyone else. God planted a new vision in her: to start her non-profit, Assurance, and later her life coaching practice, Virginia Grant Life Coaching. She decided that this would be her next career path, believing that she owed it to herself to be at the helm of her own success and a revenue stream that she controlled. Through these businesses, Virginia equips caregivers with the tools and encouragement to prioritize their own well-being while caring for others—a visionary movement transforming the lives of caregivers, lifelines, their loved ones, and their communities.

What impact has ownership had on Virginia's life, family, and community?

Virginia is the first to say that entrepreneurship changes everything, both in good and bad ways. In the early stages of business ownership, revenue is not yet coming in as it will be in 5-10 years, so there are no days off — and sacrifices, careful budgeting, and educating loved ones to understand and respect the importance of healthy budgeting are all required. But ownership has also given her something priceless: the ability to align her life with her values, plan for her family’s future, and create a vision for her business and life that grows together.

Virginia is a trusted resource in her local communities, consistently showing up — hosting events, attending gatherings, and starting conversations that rarely happen around caregiving. Her goal is to expand, and she’s excited about the transformation her business will bring to the world. She is developing a revolutionary movement: building caregiver communities with the necessary elements for caregivers to be successful and supported, and shifting the paradigm of what caregiving looks and feels like.

Virginia’s mission is to remind caregivers that they are just as important as the people they care for. Their lives don’t end when a loved one enters their home, requires additional support in their own home, or moves into a care facility — instead, caregiving should be integrated into a full, meaningful life.

What fears or challenges did Virginia have before becoming an owner, and how did she overcome them?

Like many entrepreneurs, Virginia wrestles with fear — fear of not being great, not being successful, not being amazing, and sometimes questions her ability to carry out the mighty assignment that God has given her. But instead of letting fear stop her, she chooses faith.

Each day, she pushes past doubt by taking small, consistent steps to build a successful business. She leans into affirmations, reminding herself: “This is going to be a great business, so go ahead and get it done.” Over time, she’s learned that fear doesn’t disappear — but courage grows stronger when you move forward anyway, and it gets better each day.

What advice would Virginia give someone who’s never owned an income-producing asset but wants to start?

Virginia’s advice is both bold and empowering:

• If God has given you a vision or dream, it’s your responsibility and obligation to do it. Sometimes we forget that our dreams, visions, and assignments are meant for others, and we should not take it lightly that we are holding someone else’s blessing in our hands. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small clothing boutique or a huge social justice movement; your journey, service, or product has the potential to transform the lives of others.

• Research, network, and learn everything you can about your business so you can build smartly.

• If you’re sitting on something, just do it. If it fails, you can learn from it, redo it, or rewrite it. Just get it done.

Connect with Virginia For Caregivers' Support

Virginia challenges us to reflect on the following: Within your six degrees of influence, is there someone caring for a loved one? If so, how can you step in as a family member, friend, church member, co-worker, or community member to best support them?

Because caregiving is not just one person’s responsibility — We are all responsible, and we all have a role, whether as a primary caregiver or a lifeline that supports a caregiver.

• To learn more about her organization’s services, upcoming events, and to obtain resources, visit: www.assurancegnv.org

• To learn more about her caregiver coaching services and to schedule a free call, visit: www.virginiagrant.com