A Note On Support Groups In General
Support groups are a great way to develop a social network of people going through similar experiences connections through shared experiences are beneficial for a variety of reasons. They validate our experience, make us feel seen, and heard.
Some support groups are led by trained professionals, while others are facilitated by peers who have been trained in support group dynamics and facilitation. Depending on what a person may be looking for, one is not necessarily better than the other.
Benefits Of A Caregiver Support Group
Benefits of joining caregiver support groups include:
- Forming friendships, which can reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation, anxiety, or distress
- Getting advice from other caregivers regarding practical solutions, treatment options, and what to expect in the future caregivers can also share their tips and improve or learn new healthy coping skills
- Gaining a sense of empowerment and control
- Giving a better quality of life to your senior loved one
Join A Caregiver Support Group Today
Interested in joining a caregiver support group? We offer a variety of caregiver support groups throughout New York State including Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, Washington, Franklin counties as well as the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. For more information, visit our support group homepage to find a support group in your area or call our Caregiver Telephone Support Line at .
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Resources For Alzheimer’s Care
Explore the Alzheimers.gov portal for information and resources on Alzheimers and related dementias caregiving from across the federal government.Phone: 1-800-438-4380
Alzheimer’s AssociationPhone: 1-800-272-3900
The Alzheimer’s Association offers information, a help line, and support services to people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Local chapters across the country offer support groups, including many that help with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Call or go online to find out where to get help in your area. The Association also funds Alzheimer’s research.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of AmericaPhone: 1-866-232-8484
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America provides information about how to care for people with Alzheimer’s, as well as a list of services for people with the disease. It also offers information for caregivers and their families through member organizations. Services include a hotline, publications, and other educational materials.
Eldercare LocatorPhone: 1-800-677-1116
Caregivers often need information about community resources, such as home care, adult day care, and nursing homes. Contact the Eldercare Locator to find these resources in your area. The Eldercare Locator is a service of the Administration on Aging. The Federal Government funds this service.
Phone: 1-800-222-2225TTY: 1-800-222-4225
Regain Your Sense Of Individuality
When you spend your whole day caring for someone else, its easy to neglect your own needs. By taking time away from your caregiving duties, you give your psyche the much-needed break to evaluate your own sense of self. Caregiver support groups allow caregivers the opportunity to focus on YOU: your needs, your daily struggles, hopes, and plans for the future. Your network of caregiving friends can help you regain your sense of self-worth.
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National Alliance For Mental Illness
A caregiver who cares for a person with mental illness usually involves helping a person with schizophrenia or other types of serious and persistent mental illness. Learning about how to accept and cope with mental illness in a positive manner can be challenging.
The National Alliance for Mental Illness is a national non-profit organization that offers a peer-led Family Support Group. The goal of the group is to support caregivers and family members of anyone who suffers from symptoms of a mental health condition.
The support groups offered by NAMI follow a very structured model in which facilitators are trained. The groups are 60 to 90 minutes in duration and meet every other week or monthly .
NAMI hopes to help group participants to become more empowered by sharing experiences with those who listen non-judgmentally. All groups are free of cost to participants. You can find a local support group near you on their website.
Support Is There For You If You Need It
Whether you are in need of a support group for caregivers or know someone who is, there are a variety of caregiver support groups out there. Finding a supportive community either in-person or online can be a massive weight off of your shoulders, and can ease the stress of caring for a loved one.
Are you a member of a support group that you found to be helpful? We would love for you to share your insight with us and the rest of the CaringBridge community in the comment section below!
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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.
Texas Adult Protective Services
1-800-252-5400
APS investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities. Any adult who has a disability or who is age 65 or older over that is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may be eligible to receive adult protective services.
Phone: 1-800-621-0508
Register complaints against businesses report senior fraud. The Senior Texans page includes information on consumer protection rights of the elderly choosing a nursing home advance planning, health and safety and Senior Alerts.
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General Caregiver Support Group
The support of caregivers during these particularly trying times brought by COVID-19 is essential to their wellbeing and that of their families.
Tuesdays 6 – 7:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, please email or call . The meeting password will be provided upon registration. All meetings are password protected.
Learn About Alzheimers Disease And Other Dementias Local And State Resources And Caregiver Support In Texas
1.800.272.3900 – 24/7 Helpline
TDD: 1.866.403.3073
The Alzheimers Association provides information and support for family caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and the public. Some of the programs they offer include a 24/7 Helpline comprehensive information on risk factors diagnosis and treatment options day-to-day care legal and financial planning safety services and MedicAlert®+ Alzheimers Association Safe Return® current research Association news releases and referrals to local support groups.
Link to local chapters for available programs and services.
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What To Expect At The Meeting
A facilitator from ADRC guides the meeting, which lasts between one and two hours. We are always happy to follow up with information about questions that arise during the meeting. Each group meeting is unique, depending on the needs of those present, but they have some common elements:
- Everyone gets a chance to speak.
- Challenges are shared and emotions are validated.
- Suggestions are shared if they are asked for.
- No one sits in judgment on anyone elses experience.
- Sometimes there are tears, but there is always some laughter, too.
Around any holiday, the dates or locations might change, so please check with us in November and December. If you have questions about attending a support group, please contact us at 436-7750 or
Locations
Best Remote Support Groups For Caregivers Of People With Dementia
If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimers disease or other dementias, your daily responsibilities can be overwhelming, stressful, and isolating even if youve been looking after them for some time. While each caregivers experience is as unique as the loved ones they care for, you are not alone in the difficulties you face, either. Among the many free resources available to dementia caregivers, some of the most popular are support groups that connect dementia patients, caregivers, family members, and other members of local communities. As you discover more resources and learn more about Alzheimers disease and dementia, these support groups make it easier find clarity and additional guidance.
Below are 8 the best online, remote-access dementia support groups to help you and your loved one through your journey with this illness. Through groups such as these, countless caregivers and their loved ones have connected with others who are navigating similar obstacles as they care for their loved ones. Read on to learn about some options that might turn out to be excellent resources for both you or your loved one.
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Alzheimers & Dementia Caregiver Support Groups
Senior Living Residences is dedicated to assisting and supporting individuals with memory loss and the families and friends who love them.
Adapting to and planning for each stage of Alzheimers disease and related dementia disorders can be difficult, but it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you are going through. Our Alzheimers Caregiver Support Groups are facilitated by a Compass Memory Support Program Director who shares his or her expertise about the disease and arranges for guest speakers who provide specialized information to the group.
Several of our support groups have been adapted to meet virtually via Zoom.
Texas Health And Human Services
HHSC supports families and caregivers by increasing access to available support services in their communities.
Aging and Disability Resource Center
1-855-937-2372
ADRCs can help you learn what services you may qualify for with Medicare and Medicaid and provide information on care facilities and respite care.
1-800-252-9240
The 28 area agencies on aging provide services to help people aged 60 and older, their family members, and caregivers receive the information and assistance they need in locating and accessing community services. Services include:
- Information, referral, and assistance
- Benefits counseling and legal assistance
- Care coordination
Email the
Provides current and comprehensive information on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias from the National Institute on Aging. Information Specialists are available to assist with questions about Alzheimers disease and other dementias information for caregiving free publications about symptoms, diagnosis, related disorders, risk factors, treatment, caregiving tips, home safety tips, and research referrals to local support services and research centers that specialize in research and diagnosis Spanish language resources clinical trials information and training materials, guidelines, and news updates.
1.866.232.8484
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Alzheimers And Dementia Caregiver Center
Here you can find resources that are the closest in proximity to you, staffed by trained professionals that can offer you information or support. The Alzheimers and Dementia Caregiver Center also provides separate support groups for those in early or late stages of dementia and Alzheimers disease.
Ucsf Memory And Aging Center Clinic
Younger-onset Alzheimers disease is a rare form of the illness. It involves a type of dementia that impacts people under the age of 65.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately up to 5% of people with Alzheimers disease develop symptoms before age 65. This indicates that approximately 250,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the younger-onset form of AD.
If you live in the San Francisco area, however, theres a local community sponsored by the UCSF Memory and Aging Center Clinic. It was created specifically for those who have been diagnosed with young-onset AD and their caregiver or spouse/significant other. For group members to qualify, they must: be in the mild or early stage of Alzheimers disease, have been diagnosed before age 65, or have a significant other or caregiver who will participate in the group.
It is free to join and participate in, meets bi-monthly, and offers education on Alzheimers disease and new research developments. The community aims to provide support and validation for the struggles the families are going through, while also teaching coping skills and discussing emotional challenges.
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Find A Group To Share The Journey
Whether you are caring for your parents, a spouse, or another loved one, meeting and talking with other caregivers can be an opportunity to learn, connect, get ideas and be understood.
When choosing a caregiver support group, you may want to visit more than one to make sure the group is the right fit. Most groups are facilitated by a social worker or other professional who specializes in caregiving.
There are caregiver support groups located throughout the six counties that that Area Agency on Aging 1-B serves Please call before attending to confirm that the group is still active and accepting members.
How To Find An Alzheimers Support Group Online
Online Alzheimers support groups offer flexibility in terms of time and travel, as well as safety due to COVID-19 concerns. Depending on the type of online group, sessions may be in a synchronous format where everyone joins at the same time, such as live group talks or meetings.
Other groups, such as message boards and community chats, may be asynchronous. This means you can log on whenever you want, which gives you a bit more flexibility in terms of time.
Some Alzheimers organizations, such as the Alzheimers Association, offer virtual resources as well. Here, along with support groups, you can find online message boards for people living with Alzheimers disease, plus their friends, family members, and caregivers.
The Alzheimers Associations free message boards are offered via ALZConnected. One message board called I Have Alzheimers or Another Dementia is designed specifically for people affected with this brain condition.
This is a public forum, though, so be careful about sharing any personal information. And because message boards are intended for information only, not medical advice, its best to check with your doctor before trying any recommendations you read.
You may also decide to join one Alzheimers support groups on Facebook, such as:
Another virtual option to support caregivers is the Alzheimers Foundation of America helpline.
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Telephone Support Group In Spanish
Designed for Spanish-speaking family caregivers to share their experience, advice and support for other caregivers. For more information or to register, please contact Adriana Sanchez, 434-3388 x316, asanchez@caregiver.org. Open to San Francisco Bay Area residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Alzheimer’s Alliance Of Smith County
903-509-8323
The Alzheimers Alliance of Smith County provides programs and services to individuals in Smith County with any type of dementia, their families, and the professionals who care for them. Some of the programs they offer include caregiver support groups a tracking program for wanderers personal consultation with a social worker a day respite program education free memory screenings and a resource library of books and DVDs. Contact them for a complete list of programs.
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Support Is Important You Are Important
Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s can be taxing and, at times, overwhelming. Caregivers should feel supported in every possible way. Taking care of yourself makes the task of caring for others much easier. Support groups are a positive way to be part of a social network, learn tips, learn more about the condition, practice self-care, and foster connection among others who understand the demands of caregiving. Tell us about your experience in the comments below, or with the community.
Interested in more reading on progression and support through Alzheimer’s? Check out Alzheimer’s Progression: Support Through the Stages.
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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The Alzheimer’s Foundation Of America
Alzheimers caregivers often find it difficult to attend in-person support group meetings due to their busy caregiving obligations. Knowing this, the Alzheimers Foundation of America offers free, telephone-based support meetings on a weekly basis.
The AFA offers professionally facilitated groups run by licensed social workers, allowing caregivers a chance to connect with others and share their stories, questions, answers, emotions, and more. The sessions are scheduled at various times during the week, and cover general caregiver support, family interactions, and conflict resolution. There are also options for caregivers to speak with each other one on one.
Register for a free caregiver support group by calling the organization’s toll-free helpline. A social worker is available on weekdays and weekends to help with enrollment or answer any questions.
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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