Caregiver Insights

Caregiver Suggestions

Support Groups

Caregiving for people with dementia is a challenging and lonely business, especially for first-time caregivers who are hesitatingly moving into unfamiliar territory. I was fortunate early in our Alzheimer’s journey to befriend an exceptional professional caregiver who provided sound advice. She also started a support group at Balfour Senior Living that played a huge role in my ability to meet the challenges that dementia creates. Nothing about dementia caregiving is easy, but good support groups can make a difference in our lives.

Without support, caregivers are isolated, and the isolation is compounded as we face repetitive routines, tasks, and questions day after day. As stress and fatigue mount, so does the risk of depression. Some relief may come from family and friends, good self-care programs, meditation and prayer, breaks for personal time, journaling, and counseling or therapy. But attending good support groups is particularly worthwhile because they provide unique benefits.

Caregiver support groups offer us wide-ranging perspectives. We are relieved from isolation and learn that we are not alone. Other support group members deal with different specifics, but their issues are similar. Together, we contribute and receive ideas. We discuss practical advice, coping skills, and alternative solutions. We discover that our feelings are normal and there are multiple solutions to common problems. Trust is created and we can say things we that can’t in other situations. From these discussions new bonds are formed and friendships are made. Hearing other people’s stories helps us better appreciate the importance of patience, empathy, and compassion. Support groups give us hope that we will survive intact. And they provide advice to make it happen.

Not all support groups are great. In fact, they range all over the lot. The skills of the facilitators are critical. Some facilitators dominate the discussion rather than emphasizing caregiver participation. Other facilitators allow one or two participants to control the conversation, which does not provide opportunities for other members to express their concerns. But support groups that gel are almost magical. They find a balance in which certain members choose to remain quiet and observe while others share concerns that produce healthy discussions and suggestions. Good ideas flow from any corner of the room.

I believe that in-person support groups have significant advantages over on-line support groups. They are more engaging and spontaneous. Physical presence, non-verbal cues, and body language lead to deeper connections and a stronger sense of community. But if in-person support groups are not an option for you, there are still benefits to attending virtual groups. Exposure to new ideas usually leads to better decision making.

Our Mission

Connection, Insight & Relief

To connect dementia caregivers to community, practical insights, and genuine relief — so that no caregiver has to figure this out alone, without a hand to reach for or a voice that understands.

Built by caregivers. For caregivers.

Our Vision

No One Walks Alone

A world where no caregiver walks this road alone — where every family touched by dementia has access to the compassion, knowledge, and community they so deeply deserve.

Because love deserves a community behind it.

Dementia Caregivers Connection isn't a program someone designed from the outside. It is the community Pete and Christine wish had existed when they needed it most — and it grows stronger with every caregiver who joins it.

Built by caregivers, for caregivers. We offer practical insights, compassionate community, and meaningful relief for every family walking the dementia journey — because no one should face it alone.

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