support groups | The Memories Project

Tag Archives: support groups

April 21, 2025 · 8:00 am

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.

Image generated by Google Gemini.

1 Comment

Filed under Awareness & Activism

Tagged as Alzheimer's, caregivers, caregiving, dementia, support groups

February 19, 2017 · 9:26 pm

A time to listen

img_20170215_173017795

In the post-caregiving phase of life, we can feel pulled in opposite directions. There is often a natural response to retreat from the outer world and try to process all that we’ve been through. As time marches on, we may feel the call to help other caregivers, and that means opening ourselves up to listening to other people’s experiences.

Over the last several years, I have followed many other caregivers via blogs and have been a virtual witness to their highs and lows. I am a member of a caregiver Facebook group and admittedly sometimes I scroll past the heartbreaking posts because there is only so much I can take. I would love to be able to help each and every one, but of course that’s impossible.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an in-person support group at Amy’s Place for dementia caregivers, and it was a moving experience. I was there in part to hand out caregiver gift bags that are part of my Respite Care Share project, but my most important action that night was simply listening.

It was disheartening to hear that many of the issues I encountered with my father’s care are still going on today, five years later. Some of the caregiver’s stories brought back painful memories. But there was a power in sharing stories, exchanging tips and advice, and offering moral support.

Family caregivers take on so much, but often find few opportunities to vent. Whether you attend a formal support group or just offer a sympathetic ear to a friend or family member, make an effort to be a listener on a regular basis. It can mean the world of difference to those going through difficult times.