By Bill Wertman, CEO, Big Bend Hospice
Caregiving is one of the most selfless roles a person can take on.
It often begins quietly: A spouse helping with medications, a daughter driving to appointments, a neighbor stopping by to check in. Over time, those small acts grow into something much larger…long days, sleepless nights, and a steady commitment to someone else’s well-being.
For many, caregiving becomes a full-time responsibility, carried out with little recognition and even less rest.
At Big Bend Hospice, we see caregivers every day. We see their strength, their exhaustion, and their unwavering dedication. We also see how important it is to support them, not just the patients they care for.
That belief is what led us to partner with ACTS 2 to host the upcoming Caregiving with Heart Conference, a day dedicated to the people who give so much of themselves to others.
On Saturday, April 18, we’ll gather at the Jake Gaither Community Center here in Tallahassee for a day focused on education, connection, and support. The conference is designed for families facing chronic illness, offering practical tools, shared experiences, and space to learn from others who understand what caregiving truly means.
But more than anything, it’s an opportunity for caregivers to take a moment for themselves.
Caregivers are often so focused on the needs of others that they rarely pause to consider their own. This conference is meant to change that, even if just for a few hours. With sessions, resources, and conversations throughout the day, we hope to provide not only information but encouragement.
We’ve also worked to make the day as accessible as possible. The conference is free to attend and includes meals, with additional support available for those who may need respite or childcare services.
Because if we’re going to ask caregivers to show up for themselves, we have to make it possible for them to do so.
This event is not just about education. It’s about community. It’s about sitting in a room with people who understand the weight and the meaning of caregiving. It’s about hearing someone else’s story and recognizing a piece of your own in it.
And it’s about reminding caregivers that they are not alone.
At Big Bend Hospice, our mission has always extended beyond the patient. We care for families. We support those who stand beside their loved ones through illness, uncertainty, and loss. The Caregiving with Heart Conference is one more way we live out that commitment.
If you are a caregiver, or if you know someone who is, I encourage you to learn more and consider joining us. Not because you have to. But because you deserve it.
Sometimes the best way to care for others… is to first care for yourself.