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It can be very frustrating, upsetting, overwhelming… It can be awful!
But, it’s even more awful when you’re all alone. Our online support groups (with more to come) offer comfort during difficult times and celebrations during those special moments.
To join one of our groups, simply click on the name the group, below, to be directed to a subscription page. Once you complete the sign-up form, you’ll receive a confirmation e-mail message. Reply to the confirmation message to complete your subscription. If you have any problems subscribing, please e-mail Denise; she’ll be glad to add you to the group.
Before joining, please read our Tips, which describe how our groups work. For your privacy and convenience, our members communicate via e-mail messages. To help everyone stay on the same page, we find it helpful to remember The Four Agreements.
We also have a chat schedule for our groups, which you can view here.
Our current groups:
Caregiving Support: This group helps family caregivers of aging relatives. Karen is the ambassador of this group. As an ambassador, Karen welcomes new members and helps keep the conversations going.
Caring for Adult Children: This group helps parents who are caring for their adult children.
Gay-Lesbian Support: For family caregivers who are gay or lesbian.
Grieving Support: For family caregivers grieving the loss of their care recipients.
Long-distance Support: For family caregivers who care from a distance.
Sandwiched Support: For family caregivers raising children and caring for aging relatives. Bette is the ambassador for this group.
Spousal Support: For spouses in a caregiving role. Geri is this group’s ambassador.
We’ll add these groups in the next few weeks; you are welcome to join as many groups as you’d like:
- Christian Support: For family caregivers who are Christians.
- Godspeed Support: For family caregivers whose roles have ended and who are looking to start the next phase of their lives.
- Nursing Home Support: For family caregivers whose care recipients reside in a nursing home.
Would you like to be notified when we add a new group? Simply send Denise an e-mail with the the name of the group you’d like to join. She’ll let you know when the group is up and running. Thanks so much for joining us!
You also can join our Facebook fan page.
[...] Wow – what an amazing story. Thank you, Denise, for the great work you are doing, and thanks for sharing your thoughts with Seniors for Living! To learn more about Denise’s groups, or to join one, visit: http://www.caregiving.com/get-support/ [...]
My experience has also shown that caregivers connected with a support network always do much better. They’re emotionally better, better informed, and provide better care.
I hope you are right! I feel like this is never ending and I know when its the end I will need more than my family. I guess at least I can recognize I need more understanding. Thanks for this insite on this site!
My family is new caregivers which consist of myself, my son, and my husband who is also a caree. Mom in law has dementia and my husband has chronic regional pain syndrome/ RSD. My son has stepped up and moved in with mom. Days are difficult but nights are a blessing! I’m glad I found this site. We feel disconnected with family and friends! It would be nice to connect with people who understand what our family may be going through.
Barb, I am so glad that you found this site. You certainly have a lot on your plate.
Denise and all of the caregivers who share here have been a real blessing to me. It’s easy to feel isolated, as caregivers, because we have SO many demands on our time and those who have not been there cannot truly comprehend the emotional, physical and often financial drain that caregiving places on you. Everyone’s caregiving experience & situation is unique, but we all experience similar emotions and difficulties.
Hugs, Karen
Thanks 4 the hugs Karen. They are few and far between. Tonight is the first night in a long time that I am alone more than 30 min. feels great! I was able to see mom and chat for a few moments that were priceless. She is on new meds and its getting hard to talk with her. But she keeps asking for her mom and dad! She looks at me like she doesn’t understand they have been gone more than 40 yrs. I’m telling her they are happy and together! That works for now! Have a good week!