Alzheimers Support Groups For People Living With Alzheimers
Powered by the Alzheimers Association, AlzConnected is a free online community. As the name suggests, the group offers a place for people living with Alzheimers to connect, share stories, and support one another. The site features an active message board where people can get and give advice.
This message board offers thousands of posts on a variety of topics, including I Have Alzheimers or Another Dementia, What Would You Tell Your Future Care Partner? Alzheimers Under Age 65, and many more. There is also a section for discussion in Spanish, as well as a forum to explore questions, issues, and concerns about FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimers disease.
Memory People was founded in 2010 by Rick Phelps after he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers at the age of 57. The group was created to provide assistance, information, support, and encouragement. Its a great place for people to hear the stories of others, and share their own. The page is also home to a collection of videos hosted by Rick. From stigma in dementia to caregiver guilt, his videos explore a range of topics.
Much more than simply a place to gather information, Memory People has grown into a community.
CONNECT WITH A SPECIALIST
You can also join an e-mail network, where you can connect with other family caregivers to ask questions and freely talk about your challenges in a safe place.
For People Living With Dementia
Early Stage Support Group For people with dementia in the early stages of the disease to share stories, experiences and learn from one another about how to live well with dementia.
This group meets via Zoom the third Wednesday of the month- 10:30-11:30am. Contact Nicole -to register for the group
Coffee and Chat For people with dementia and their care partners. This is NOT a Support Group, but an opportunity for you to check in with each other.Make yourself comfortable, grab a cup of coffee or tea and join some of the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan staff and peers online to say hello and let us know how you are doing.
We will be online via Zoomthe first and third Friday of each month- 10:30-11:30 am. Click the following email to register to attend:
Please note: Due to privacy and confidentiality, we will not be able to address personal client matters during the chat, but will be happy to connect you with a First Link Coordinator or Client Services Team Manager who will be able to support you.
Find A Caregiver Support Group
Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. One of the best ways you can care for yourself is to build a strong support system. You can get that through our caregiver support groups. We are currently offering virtual caregiver support groups, open to the public.
If you need support, please leave us a message at or email and we will respond to your needs.
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Mindfulness Meditation For Caregivers
In general, meditation practice has been shown to be helpful with improving concentration, attention, creativity and decreasing anxiety and depression.
First and third Tuesdays of the month 1 2 p.m. ET
For more information or to register, email or call . The meeting password will be provided upon registration. All meetings are password protected.
American Parkinsons Disease Association
Key Specs
- Membership fee: Free
- Structure: In-person and online support groups, fitness classes
- Details: Offers a network of local chapters and virtual events, resources created specifically for veterans and first responders, and fitness and dance classes on YouTube and via Zoom.
- Things to consider: There are minimal fees for some classes.
The American Parkinsons Disease Association provides a variety of support groups and resources for Parkinsons disease patients and their family members and caregivers, everything from a support forum called Smart Patients to an Ask the Doctor section aimed at answering any question or concern you may have.
The APDA offers a nationwide search page to find local, in-person support group meetings for Parkinsons patients and their caregivers. Fitness classes for people with Parkinsons are available nationwide and, although there’s a fee involved, the APDA can help those who need financial assistance.
There are also resources for those with early-onset Parkinsons, veterans with Parkinsons, Spanish speakers, and more.
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Dementia Support Group Facilitators Toolkit Project
Link to Resource:
This toolkit, developed by the Rush Alzheimers Disease Center, is designed for dementia support group facilitators who want to learn and grow in their practice. The Toolkit Project was developed based on insights gained from a dementia support group for adults with younger-onset Alzheimers disease and their caregivers. The toolkit includes information about support group facilitator skills, common themes expressed by people living with dementia and their family members, topics for encouraging discussions, and resources to share with support group members. Resources also cover how dementia support group facilitators can stay connected with their members and encourage members to stay connected with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How To Access Support For Families And Carers
Joining a carer support group is a great way to share knowledge, tips and strategies with others who are going through a similar experience.
To find a group near you:
You can also call our National Dementia Helpline to book in professional counselling.
Alternatively, we regularly run several education programs specifically designed for families and carers. Browse and register for an upcoming session.
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Support For Medical Professionals
Oftentimes, the family physician is the person who delivers the unfortunate diagnosis of dementia. Your patient and their loved ones look to you to help them process the news and to know what to do next. But general practice doctors may not have the expertise or resources that families need at this vulnerable time. Hope Hospice is here to help. You may refer your patient to our Living With Dementia program to help them navigate this journey. Our classes and support groups are free to the local public, even if their loved on is not on our hospice service.
Hope also offers in-service training to facility staff who regularly engage with patients living with dementia.
How Can I Join A Closed Facebook Group
You can find comfort in knowing that closed Facebook groups are private. All posts and comments can only be seen by other members of the group. Your activity will not show on your personal Facebook page.
Follow these steps if you are looking to join a closed Facebook group:
Before requesting to join a Facebook group, read the description section. If available, check the special instructions to join or the community guidelines, and assess if this group is the right fit for you.
If at any time you want to after your request has been accepted, there are simple steps you can take to do so.
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Join The Yyc Dementia Support Group On Facebook
Regardless of where you are in your journey, there is a broader community of support available for you in Calgary and surrounding areas. Support groups empower you to share your story, connect with others facing similar situations and discuss strategies. Its a safe place to talk about your experiences as well as a place for laughter, insight and healing.Consider joining a support group in your local community. The Alzheimer Society of Calgary has several support groups led by experienced facilitators who can provide valuable comfort, support, connections and resources to help with the journey.
For care partners, family members and friends:
- NW Caregiver Support Group
- Centre 70 Support Group
Note: Pre-registration is required.
Please call
Email for further information.
Family Caregiver Center
- The Family Caregiver Centre provides a coordinated source of information, education and support for care partners, including library and internet access family caregiver education supportive counselling and community development.
- Address: Bridgeland Seniors Health Centre: 1070 McDougall Rd NE, Calgary
Counselling Services throughout the Calgary area
- Calgary Access Mental Health
- Community Addiction and Mental Health Services rural communities
- The Way In
- Calgary Womens Health Collective
- Eastside Family Centre
- Foothills Community Counselling 603-3549
- Jewish Family Service
Crisis Support Services
Health Link and Dementia Advice Line
Distress Centre Calgary
Mobile Response Team
Emotional Support Groups For Alzheimers
Caregivers take on tremendous responsibilities that can easily overwhelm them. Ongoing anxiety, guilt and sleeplessness can lead to problems with physical health. You may eventually withdraw from friends and social activities and soon find yourself feeling alone, depressed and exhausted.
The National Alliance for Caregiving indicates that more than 65 million Americans care for a chronically disabled, ill or senior family member or friend. Those caregivers provide an average of 20 hours of care per week, often while still managing a full-time job and caring for their family.
Finding a support group to share stories with, seek advice from and simply have available to listen to you on a regular basis can help lower caregiver stress and alleviate the health risks that caregivers face. Plus, support groups have information on community resources for adult day care services, Alzheimers education and other programs that can ease some of the workload.
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Family Caregiver Alliances Online Caregiver Support Group Caregiver
Caregiver-Online is a Family Caregiver Alliance email-based caregiver support group. To join the debates, new users simply need to provide their name, email address, and password. You can choose to receive a daily roundup of current subjects or individual emails as each debate progresses after you join. This is a simple and low-pressure approach for caregivers to communicate with one another and share questions, concerns, and ideas.
Support For Families And Carers
Family members and friends often find themselves in the role of a carer when a loved one is living with dementia. While caring for your loved one can be rewarding, it can also have its tougher days. As you care for someone with dementia, you may not be taking as much care of your own emotional, mental or physical wellbeing.
Whether youre the husband, wife, partner, daughter, son, brother, sister or friend of the person, your relationship will change. Dementia Australia offers support for families and carers so you dont feel alone.
Services offered through Dementia Australia can help you:
- support the person to live well at home, for as long as possible
- support the person to continue with their hobbies, activities and interests
- learn about dementia, so youre better equipped to manage changes
- access support services and programs to maintain your health and wellbeing.
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Family Caregiver Support Groups
We offer Family Caregiver Support Groups for caregivers and family members of people living with Alzheimers disease and other dementias.
Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering virtual programs. In-person support groups for people caring for family and friend caregivers of someone living with Alzheimers disease or another dementia will resume when we are confident it is safe to do so.Virtual support groups for caregivers meet monthly for 90 minutes. You have the option to join by video or by phone. Regional and provincial groups are available across the province, including specialized groups for:
- Chinese families
- Adult children
- Caregivers of a person living in long-term care
- Caregivers of a person living with young onset dementia
- Caregivers of a person living with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia
- Caregivers of a person living with Lewy Body dementia
- LGBTQ+ caregivers
For more information or to register for a virtual caregiver support group, please call the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033 or see the First Link® Bulletin for a list of days and times available.
Having a diagnosis of Alzheimers disease or another dementia, or supporting a person with this diagnosis, can be incredibly demanding.
People in this situation experience a variety of feelings. The demands of the disease can make it difficult to stay in touch with friends and family, and can lead to loneliness and isolation.
Caregiver Support Groups: Dementia
The role of a caregiver is often a complex one. Caregivers may find support in speaking with others in a similar role. Support groups for caregivers who are caring for someone living with dementia are listed by county.
Before joining a support group for the first time, we recommend that you reach out to the facilitator or location to check if any details have changed, or to be notified if an emergency arises. Additionally, some facilitators like to learn about new members ahead of your first meeting to prepare a welcome packet or notify the group of a new member, and in general to learn more about your caregiving role and journey.
If you are unable to find what you are looking for, please contact UPMC Senior Services at 866-430-8742 or . We will do our best to check for a support group that will meet your needs and is located close-by.
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How Support Groups Work
Many people ranging from caregivers to friends and family of people with Alzheimers disease find support groups to be a wonderful source of information, encouragement, and inspiration. In addition, those who have been recently diagnosed with dementia or are in the early stages of the disease find support groups helpful. With the advancement of technology there is more, easy access to support groups. They can be accessed in-person, virtually or on-line.
In-Person
Virtual
This is a hybrid model that mirrors in-person format. Done virtually, meetings are held on platforms like zoom. Meetings are held with moderators leading in a discussion that could be question based or lead from an email chain. While face-to-face support can be beneficial, this option is easily accessible only requiring internet. One can gain the same benefits of help and compassion but done easily without having to leave the house. This is an accessible tool that can easily offer support for someone who has less time, difficulty with transportation or wants a support group that they can attend from the comfort of their home.
Online
Why Join A Support Group
Talking to other people with similar experiences can help reduce your stress, frustration and isolation. Plus, other caregivers often have helpful advice on what worked for them. A support group can provide a safe place to express your own needs and deal with painful emotions, including aggression, anger, mourning and guilt. It is a relief to know youre not alone.
The best groups for caregivers tend to be groups focused on the specific disease that is causing dementia and provide a safe, trusting environment with a clear structure and facilitator. That said, your area may not have a disease-specific support group, yet you might find other caregivers like you in a dementia-related support group. Try the groups that appeal to you and meet your needs. It might help to talk to the facilitator or leader before the first meeting.
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Support For Family Members
Some of the services we provide include the following:
-
comprehensive evaluation of your situation, so we can personalize our services to suit your needs and those of the person you are caring for
- education to help you understand the causes and symptoms of memory disorders and how to help your family member have the best possible quality of life
- time away from your care responsibilitiescalled respitethrough referrals to professionals who can help you find the most appropriate provider, and special programs specifically designed for people in the early stages of memory and cognitive impairment
- individual and family consultation with a social worker who can meet with you one-on-one, either in person, by phone, or via online video conferencing
- referrals to support groups and other organizations in your community
- ongoing access to our team for as long as you need us
Our goal is to make it easier for you to meet the needs of your family member who has problems with thinking and memory, and to help you maintain your own wellbeing. The program is free and available to family caregivers who live in any of the five boroughs of New York City. Family caregivers include spouses, adult children and grandchildren, other relatives, and close friends.
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Events For Alzheimers Awareness
If youre not quite ready to commit to joining any particular Alzheimers support group, you may consider attending an event first.
While many in-person events have gone virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some areas are still holding outdoor walks and other fundraising events. For example, you can find or start a team for Walk to End Alzheimers here.
Other events may be held online, such as conferences, group chats, and more. These also allow you to connect with others in a shared space.
The Alzheimers Foundation of America, for example, has daily virtual events like educational classes, arts and crafts, movement activities, and more. Check out the monthly calendar for more information.
Additionally, you may find more events throughout the month of June, which is considered Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month.
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Support For Alzheimer’s Caregivers And Care Partners
Support for Caregivers – Tips from other families traveling the caregiver path and information on being supportive, and how caregivers can take care of themselves while caring for a loved one
On Alzheimers.gov, please visit Tips for Caregivers and Families of People With Dementia
Dementia, COVID-19, and the Holidays– The holidays can be a joyous, yet stressful time under typical circumstances. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the holiday season presents new challenges, especially for those who have a loved one living with cognitive impairment or dementia. While holiday activities may look very different this year, it is important to find creative ways to engage meaningfully with each other, whether that may be through virtual gatherings or the trusted old telephone. Below we discuss some special considerations to help adapt these strategies this holiday season to effectively connect with our loved ones living with cognitive impairment or dementia. This is a guide written for the UW MBWC by Pamela M. Dean, PhD, ABPP and Madeleine Werhane, PhD, MPH of the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Mayor’s Council on African American Elders – Learn about Memory Sunday, Grandparent’s Day, and the Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum.