Tips on starting a dementia support group

As government funding vanishes for community-based health programs, it’s becoming increasingly clear that caregivers will need to build their own support networks. If you are considering starting a support group in your community, there are plenty of helpful resources online to help guide you to success.

Today’s Caregiver offers an excellent resource about starting a caregiver support group. The article does a good job addressing the key questions and tasks one must consider, from meeting location to group leader requirements and suggestions on how to set up the first meeting.

I’ve mostly attended online groups but I appreciate the benefits of in-person meetings. There is something special about sharing physical space with others that is difficult to replicate online. But Zoom meetings can offer critical connections to those who might not otherwise be able to attend support groups, such as those in rural locations and those who don’t have transportation options. In this day and age, both options are important to have available to support as many caregivers and care recipients as possible.

There are some unique considerations when it comes to creating a support group for those with dementia. The Toolkit Project offers a variety of dementia-specific resources to help those interested in creating a support group in their community. The Alzheimer’s Society also has tips for facilitating dementia-friendly discussions, including the use of cards to better understand an individual’s communication needs. Keeping things simple and clear, being flexible when it comes to the unexpected, and remaining respectful and compassionate are key factors to facilitating a dementia care support group.

Speaking of community, AlzAuthors is one of my favorite dementia-focused organizations and it is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Join us for a poetry reading on April 29 at 2 p.m. ET. I’m honored to be one of the participating poets.