How to find a caregiver support group that meets your needs

HOW CAN YOU FIND THE RIGHT SUPPORT GROUP? When first joining a group, Miller says, participants shouldn’t worry that they don’t know anything about caregiving. “That’s good. Others can share

what they’ve tried,” says Miller, who says her group usually has four to eight people show up. “People in the group can say, ‘Been there, done that.’ It’s a learning process.” If you don’t

feel comfortable with one group, don’t give up. “Support groups are unique. They have personalities,” says Marvell Adams Jr., CEO of Caregiver Action Network. “Some people want detailed

information, while others ... just want someone who understands.” Some groups teach specific skills to improve mental health and well-being, says Dolores Gallagher Thompson, a clinical

psychologist, researcher and professor emerita of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University. “Most caregivers have some degree of depression. Some have considerable 

depression, anxiety, frustration, guilt, feeling they did not do enough,” Thompson says. “At some point a caregiver is going to want to learn specific skills for stress management.” “If I

were seeking out an online or telephone group, I would ask a variety of questions about the content and focus and what to expect in terms of when I meet,” as well as what kind of training

the facilitator has had, says Robert Glueckauf, professor of behavioral sciences and social medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine, who leads ACTS 2, a training and support

group for Black caregivers of loved ones with dementia. The important thing is to find a space where you can share with people who can relate and won’t judge. Knowing that you are not alone

can make a world of difference. “People need to understand if they try once and it’s not OK, they’re not a failure. Maybe they need to find a different group,” says Miller. WHO LEADS THE

GROUP? You may find both in-person and online versions of these meetings: * PEER-LED GROUPS. Often former caregivers, such as Miller, lead these groups. Typically, they encourage caregivers

to open up about their emotions and experiences and try to find humor in difficult situations. * GROUPS LED BY TRAINED FACILITATORS. Social workers, psychologists or clergy members act as

facilitators or teach techniques to handle communication or stress using, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness. * ONLINE FORUMS. Unlike the first two, these groups, often

on a social media site such as Facebook, allow caregivers to drop by anytime. Many have moderators who may post a question to get discussion going or direct people to resources.