Support Groups for Caregivers

Discover How Our Dementia Care Team Can Help You
Being an in-home caregiver can be mentally, physically, and emotionally
draining under any circumstances. In some instances, the person being
cared for may have not only Alzheimer’s or dementia, but another
illness such as Parkinson’s disease that requires additional care.
No matter what the patients’ needs are, caregivers need care too.
“Research has shown that caregivers themselves are often at increased
risk for depression and illness,” state the United States National
Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging’s Caregiver
Guide. “Especially if they do not receive adequate support from
family, friends, and the community.”
They also point out that each person with Alzheimer’s is unique
and changes over the course of the disease, and there is no one-size-fits-all
remedy for every caregiver for the duration of the illness.
Caregivers need to be on the lookout for signs of their own stress and
seek out support.
“You are not failing as a caregiver by asking others for assistance,”
it states on the Alzheimer’s Association’s website
If friends and family cannot provide the needed caregiver support, find
a local support group through
www.alz.org or the National Family Caregivers Association.
While the online tips for caregivers can lift your spirits and maybe even
help guide you through a new action plan for anything from rewarding yourself
to getting more exercise, you may want to find someone in your area to
meet with. There is also the Caregiver Community Action Network with volunteers
in many states.
Contact Homewatch CareGivers® for more information about our support groups.