Follow
Share
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Thank you all for your responses. They give me a starting point. I am soooo glad I found this site! It has already given me an outlet to share, and reading about your situations lets me know I am not feeling disloyal in my thinking.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Check at assisted living and nursing homes, also hospitals and churches. There are tons of support groups in our community.

Google support groups in your area. Even call your librarian. They often know of all sorts of community events.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Depending on the type of caregiver you can find support groups for almost any "condition" and there will be caregivers at those meetings.
The problem is often caregivers are caring for someone and it is difficult to get away for a "chat"
When friends call you and ask if you can go to lunch, for coffee, or go for a walk you can tell them that you can't but you would love a visit, you will put on a pot of coffee, or a kettle for tea (or open a bottle of wine...) and invite them over when you have a bit of time when the person you are caring for is napping, after they have gone to bed.
this is a big problem with being a caregiver. Your circle of friends slowly diminish and soon you have no one, or only a few people to connect with. This causes isolation, burnout, depression and a whole host of problems.
This is why it is important that you try to keep in touch with friends and if they ask if there is anything they can do...Give them a task so that you will get a visit once in a while. People want to help they just don't know what to do. So when a friend calls and asks if you can go to lunch say you can't but you would love it if they would come by for lunch and on the way could you stop and pick up a gallon of milk.
Keep the connections that you have open.
But check the website of organizations like Alzheimer's Association. Parkinson's they will have lists of meetings in your area. Also don't forget about Churches, other places of Worship and Senior Centers may also have lists of meetings if they do not have their own meetings.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
kbuser Dec 2019
Love your suggestion of inviting friends over, and having them pick up something. I have the same issue with friends wanting to go out for lunch, but not coming over. I can't tell you how often I panic because the milk supply is low, and I can't get out to pick it up.
(1)
Report
My hospital has different groups for different kinds of caregivers. My church has a group for those who Are caregiving parents or relatives with Alzheimer’s/dementia. Local nursing home has support groups for resident families.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

I live in St. Pete, Florida, and St. Anthony's runs supports groups, it is great to get together with people with similar issue.   I would check local hospitals or senior centers.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Graceneeded, that isn't easy to find as not everyone can take time off at the same time to attend a caregivers meeting.

I live in a large metro area, and I couldn't find any caregivers groups. What worked be for me was this Aging Care website :) I learned so much here.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter