Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
Our support groups, led by our mental health therapists, provide caregivers with the opportunity to discuss caregiving challenges, share their feelings, and gain emotional support. Talking with people who are going through similar situations and who truly understand will help you feel less alone as you confront the many challenges of caregiving.
Our goal is to provide a safe setting that promotes mutual support, both practical and emotional, throughout the course of the disease.
Impact Of Dementia On Caregivers
As dementia progresses, and its symptoms of confusion and anxiety increase, it not only takes a toll on the person diagnosed with the disease, it also impacts the family members, romantic partners and friends who care for them.
Caregivers, like Steve, experiment to find ways to help their loved ones through all the ups and downs. Glancing at the whiteboard reminds Marilynn of where her husband is during his bike ride, and whats happening next, so she asks him less frequently and Steves stress is more manageable.
It works out really well, and hes great about organizing it enough so I get it, Marilynn said.
In the months before her diagnosis, Marilynn would get lost driving to meet her husband for lunch at his office.
I thought it was a little odd, but shed realize she was at the wrong building and come to the correct building and pick me up, so I didnt think much about it, Steve said.
In January 2014, when she called her local doctors office asking for directions, Marilynn repeated them back as if she was driving in Los Angeles. She was then evaluated for dementia, giving up her drivers license in the process before she might forget the meaning behind traffic signals.
After months of evaluation and tests, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers that March. In an interview Wednesday, June 2, Marilynn complimented her husband for how hes cared for her through her worsening symptoms.
He was very patient, and that really made a difference, she said.
Is County Ready To Meet Demands Of Growing Number Of Residents With Dementia
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Solana Beach caregiver Steve Whitecotton started his Wednesday as he always does, by writing the days schedule for his wife on a small whiteboard in the living room of their one-bedroom apartment.
9 :30 a.m. Lauren from UT visiting11 a.m. Lunch out!!!12:30 p.m. Steve cycling. Back by 2 p.m.4 p.m. Roasted chicken
Throughout the day, its displayed prominently in front of the couch, and he erases each line as its completed. Writing out a schedule helps Steve, 66, ease feelings of anxiety for his wife Marilynn, 82, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease seven years ago.
Whats more, it exceeds the original estimate of 94,000 diagnoses officials predicted the county would reach nearly 10 years from now. New estimates say the number of people with dementia in the region is expected to rise to 115,194 in 2030, according to the report published this spring.
Its a moving target that will require a mad dash from local health care systems to keep up with the demand for services.
Whats driving the increased projections? County officials say a number of factors account for the rise, including adding other forms of dementia to the calculation and a significant push from the county, geriatric physicians and nonprofits to educate the public about dementia while pushing for earlier diagnosis.
The increase also reflects better reporting and earlier diagnosis of dementia, officials say. But a large number of residents are still being undercounted.
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Getting The Most Out Of Your Alzheimers Support Group
Once youve found an Alzheimers support group in San Diego, get the most out of it by making attending a part of your normal routine. While its okay to simply listen at first, try to participate. Ask questions, offer some insight into your personal experience, get to know the other members.
Dont make a decision about whether or not the support group will work for you in the first week or two. Try the group for a few sessions before looking for a different group.
Giving Alzheimers A Voice
Deborah Gould, 70, has Alzheimers disease and she wants everyone to know about it. She was diagnosed in 2016, a fact she shares as plainly as she would the day of the week. To some, her candor could be jarring. After all, Alzheimers is a disease many struggle to discuss openly.
If you have Alzheimers, everyone thinks you dont even know the difference between night and day, and they dont look at you in the eye, she explains.
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California Hd Person Video Support Group
Who:
We invite all persons with HD Symtpoms to join this support group which will include participants across Southern California. Come join us to connect with other HD persons and discuss triumphs, challenges, ask questions, and get SUPPORT from others that know what having HD is like!If you live outside California, but receive HD care in CA, you are welcome to attend.When:
Third Sunday of each month
Who:We invite all persons who are caregivers to individuals with HD to join this support group which will include participants across Southern California. Come join us to connect with other Caregivers and learn from one another’s experiences.To register email
About Alzheimers San Diego Support Groups
- Groups are emotionally-focused.
- Members are encouraged to attend as many meetings and groups as they like to feel best supported.
- Meetings are offered 7 days a week, at various times and are 100% confidential.
- Groups are flexible. Feel free to attend when you can.
- Groups are always FREE!
- Be respectful and kind to your fellow members.
- Give everyone a chance to talk.
- Support each other by sharing your experiences and your feelings.
- Speak in reference to yourself. For example: In my experience or I feel
- What you hear and discuss is to be kept in confidence.
- For virtual groups: Please keep your microphone on mute unless you are speaking to avoid distracting background noise. Try to log in a few minutes early to test your connection.
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Other San Diego Dementia Support And Resources
Remember that, while support groups are valuable tools, a support group is not a substitute for medical advice and consults. Its also not a replacement for respite care, home care, or hospice support for your loved one with Alzheimers disease. To best cope with each stage of this disease and your role as a family caregiver, its important to become aware of all the resources available to families living with dementia. Then, choose the dementia support options that will best help you to care for your loved one and yourself.
If you have questions about Alzheimers support or dementia care in San Diego, were here to help. Our continuum of care helps to ensure that your familys needs are always met. This relieves you of the burden of having to find a new care provider as your loved one progresses into the later stages of Alzheimers disease. Contact Salus Homecare of San Diego anytime to discuss your needs or schedule a complimentary consultation for your loved one.
California Hd Bereavement Video Support Group
This support group is open to any persons , living in CA that are grieving the loss of an HD loved one. Often it is hard for others to understand or relate to the grief and loss our HD families experience and our hope is this group can provide a safe platform to openly discuss all aspects of grief/loss associated with the death of an HD loved one. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~Author Unknown For more information, please contact any of the facilitators above. When:
Contact Doug Schulte for questions. 245-8571
Meet our Faciliators
Sandy Jerkins-Grofcsik, BSFacilitates the HD Positive Support GroupSandra Jerkins, B.S. graduated from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. She is currently a psychometrist at UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimers Disease Research Center working on finding treatment for Alzheimers and other related neurodegenerative diseases. She began her career working directly with Huntingtons Disease research and has felt a kinship with the HD community ever since. Her favorite part of being a facilitator is interacting with HD families on a regular basis. Being part of the HD community is something she is proud of and her greatest hope is for a treatment and cure. She is a San Diego native who loves her family and community. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, walking her dog, and spending time outdoors.
What makes an effective support group?
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Fda May Soon Approve New Alzheimers Treatment
Something that could alter the landscape of dementia care is an effective drug that slows the progression of the disease, or eventually cures it.
Treatment wont just improve outcomes for people who are currently diagnosed, but it could inspire more people to seek a diagnosis, said Dr. Michael Lobatz. Hes a neurologist with Scripps Health who serves as co-director for the Clinical Roundtable on the countys Alzheimers Project.
Treatment, in Lobatzs words, might be right around the corner, and early diagnosis would increase the chance that treatment can effectively delay severe symptoms
The desire to be screened and evaluated will go up on all levels, Lobatz said. Physicians will want to do it, patients will want to do it. This will be a big, major sea change at that point.
On Monday, June 7, the FDA will vote whether to approve Aducanumab, a monoclonal antibody from the neuroscience-centered biotech company Biogen. Its designed to bind to and remove amyloid beta plaques from the brain to slow neurodegeneration and disease progression.
If approved, Lobatz said, it would be the first time in 18 years that a drug to change the clinical course of Alzheimers disease has entered the market.
But through the course of its development and testing, there has been some controversy around the efficacy of Aducanumab, Lobatz said.
For detailed information on getting started with caregiving, and a map of nonprofit organizations throughout the county, visit CaregiverSD.com.
Resources For Dementia Caregivers
Memory loss. Confusion. Wandering. Belligerence. Paranoia.
These are just some of things caregivers can expect if they are taking care of a family member with Alzheimers or other type of dementia.
Even with these many potential challenges, its important to remember that these behaviors are often coping tactics for a person with deteriorating brain function, according to the Family Caregiving Alliance. Theres no question that dealing with these behaviors can make caregiving especially challenging.
The already-stressful demands of caregiving are compounded when dementia is involved, so its even more important that caregivers reach out for help. Below are some of the resources available. Alzheimers-related organizations can also recommend other ways to find assistance.
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Where San Diego Has Room For Improvement
But as prepared as the region is in many ways, San Diego isnt unique in that there remain shortfalls to addressing the needs of caregivers and dementia patients.
We know that Alzheimers is one of the most expensive illnesses a family can encounter or a person can encounter its the largest strain on the Medicare system, Welch said. If we can get more support services in place early on to help families and to help the people that are diagnosed with dementia, its only going to be a benefit to our community as a whole.
More long-term care facilities are already needed to meet the needs of todays seniors, as well as neurologists, psychiatrists, professional caregivers and other geriatric health care specialists, Dr. Steve Koh said. He chairs The Alzheimers Project education committee for the Clinical Roundtable and is an associate professor in the Psychiatry Department at UC San Diego.
Its an evolving disease that has a lifespan of anywhere from three to 20 years, Koh said. During that stretch of time, these patients could become behaviorally out of control, really medically ill, depressed and just become unstable on their medicines.
In San Diego, theres currently a capacity of 8,805 beds in skilled nursing facilities and 20,465 in residential care facilities for the elderly, which include nursing homes dedicated to memory care.
We just dont have enough of those, and thats concerning because the population is aging. Its highly problematic, Koh said.
How To Find A Caregiver Support Group
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When Cheryl Jarvis was looking for help in dealing with her moms care a few years back, she turned to the Southern Caregiver Resource Center and Alzheimers San Diego.
In addition to other services, Jarvis used both of the groups extensive support group networks. Jarvis said the support she received transcended the actual meetings, with other caregivers becoming more like family than some of her actual family members.
And, she noted, with a laugh, nothing reminded her of how good she had it than going to support group and hearing how bad others had it.
Where to start: A multitude of places offer caregiver support groups, from caregiver service organizations to disease-related associations and even private memory-care facilities.
Keep in mind: While some caregiver support groups are helpful to anyone, there are groups that focus on the specific challenges of a caregiver. Examples includes support groups for spouses, adult children of aging parents, military caregivers, Spanish speakers or mens support groups.
A sampling of places that offer support groups:
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Is San Diego Prepared Kind Of
Advocates at local nonprofits supporting seniors and their caregivers say San Diego is better prepared for an increasingly aging population and greater number of dementia diagnoses than many other counties across the country.
Organizations such as the Southern Caregivers Resource Center and the San Diego Caregiver Coalition address the needs of caregiving as a whole, while the Alzheimers Association San Diego chapter and Alzheimers San Diego focus specifically on dementia care.
Through these and other nonprofits in the region, there are educational opportunities for people with dementia and caregivers to learn about the disease, as well as support groups where they can relieve stress and learn from their peers.
In addition to the Clinical Roundtable, the countys Alzheimers Project has the Collaboration4Cure branch bringing in medical research funding into the county.
In-home respite care is also available through the countys voucher program, which launched as a $1 million effort in 2019, spearheaded by former Supervisor Dianne Jacob.
The initiative aims to prevent burnout by supporting middle-income caregivers who neither qualify for low-income respite programs nor can afford to hire a care provider.
San Diego also has private and nonprofit adult day care programs, which provide respite for full-time, unpaid caregivers or allow them to maintain a job while keeping their loved one at home.
Choose Well San Diego
If the person with dementia is no longer able to live at home, youll want to find a community that you can afford and also provides quality care. Choose Well San Diego is a county-funded website that can help you compare over 600 licensed assisted living and memory care facilities side by side. The facility finder is a searchable database that lists licensing information, capacity, pricing, SSI and financial assistance information, specialty care details, staffing levels, facility amenities, other on-site services and more. Facilities that volunteer to be rated by Choose Well get a profile page that includes a computed score. Scores are based on 11 Quality Measures, including civil penalties, basic care and supervision, resident rights, medical needs and responsiveness and food and nutrition. Citations, violations, complaints and other information about nonparticipating facilities can be researched on the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division.
Contact: 795-2165 choosewellsandiego.org
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Dementia Support In San Diego
According to the Alzheimers Association, more than 60,000 seniors in San Diego county are living with Alzheimers disease. This takes a toll on our community and especially the family members and care partners providing care to people with dementia. Learning how to handle common Alzheimers caregiver challenges is important, as is finding the right dementia support in San Diego, options that benefit you most.
Fighting Stigma And Supporting Research
Alzheimers can feel like an impossible disease. But at Alzheimers San Diego, we know that people can still live well after a diagnosis. We recognize the dignity of every person living with dementia, and empower them to play an active role in planning their own future care. We see the heartache this disease inflicts on caregivers, and were here to give them the support and knowledge they need to become strong care partners and to find joy in even the darkest moments. And were working to make Alzheimers a disease of the past, by connecting people to clinical trials and funding research for a cure.
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Finding Dementia Support In San Diego
Most groups offering dementia support in San Diego are currently running on a virtual platform as a result of COVID-19. Many use Zoom or a similar platform to bring people together and host weekly meetings. Here are a few online education dementia support options to explore:
In addition to these options, other support groups may be available to San Diego families coping with Alzheimers disease. Information about them is typically available from your doctor, local hospitals, the YMCA or other recreational centers, senior centers, or your church or place of worship.
Fact Check: Demystifying Support Groups
Myth #3:I have to show my face on camera through Zoom and that makes me uncomfortable. If you prefer dialing in with your phone, or just listening for the first time with your camera off, that is completely fine. If, after the first meeting you are still uncomfortable being on camera or displaying your name, please speak with your group facilitator or call the Support Group Coordinator to discuss your concerns. It can be comforting to see the faces of those you are connecting with, but we also want you to be at ease.
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