Critter Corner: November is National Family Caregivers Month

Dear Kiwi and Mango,

I read that November is National Caregivers Month. I am a caregiver for my mother, who lives in our home and suffers from dementia. I am stressed and could use a support group of other caregivers in a similar situation. I was told that support groups can be very helpful. I am looking for either online or in-person groups, if you know of any, because I honestly have no idea where to start in finding good ones.

Thanks so much for your help!

Wanda Conekt

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Dear Wanda,

Happy National Family Caregivers Month! This month is a time to think about the challenges and rewards of caregiving and to uplift caregivers with the support they need. This year’s theme, Caregiving: Refresh & Renew, makes it a perfect time to explore resources that nurture a caregiver’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and support groups are a great way to do that! The following groups are all designed with a caregiver’s well-being in mind:

• Caregiver Action Network: The Caregiver Action Network works to help those who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities or disease. The website includes an extensive toolbox, as well as a Caregiver Help Desk, staffed by caregiving experts who offer free support to family caregivers.
• The Caregiver Space Community: The 8,000+ members of the The Caregiver Space Community Facebook group provide encouragement and support to others. Anyone providing care to seniors who are ill or disabled can make connections and find helpful resources.
• The Well Spouse Association: The Well Spouse Association offers support to spousal caregivers. In addition to offering in-person group meetings (broken down by state in their search tool ), the Well Spouse Association offers online support in the form of an online forum on their site, Facebook groups, Reddit forums, and more.
• Family Caregiver Alliance: The Family Caregiver Alliance provides extensive resources and support for caregivers of adults with chronic or disabling health conditions. Their online caregiver support groups focus on family caregivers. Additionally, they have an interactive tool, which provides a wide variety of links to resources for caregivers in all 50 states.
• The Alzheimer’s Association: The Alzheimer’s Association offers both expert-run virtual groups and online forums for Alzheimer’s caregivers. They offer emotional support, share useful advice, and provide resources to help manage caregiving duties.
• r/CaregiverSupport and r/Caregiving via Reddit: When in-person meetings aren’t possible, subreddits r/CaregiverSupport and r/Caregiving are online spaces that are welcoming and nonjudgmental. Some people feel better posting online than sharing these feelings in person, but whatever your preference is, it’s important to have an outlet and find a space that works for you.
• The American Cancer Society: For anyone caring for someone who’s been diagnosed with cancer, the American Cancer Society recently created ACS CARES, an app that connects caregivers with resources, trained community members, and direct access to cancer information specialists.
• Working Daughter: With over 9,000 members, Working Daughter is a Facebook group specially designed for women with careers who are also balancing the demands of caring for a relative. Whether you are helping an older family member or someone younger with special needs, the community is unique in that it understands the roles of both work and care.
• AARP Family Caregivers Facebook group: The AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group is a private Facebook group caregivers can join in order to connect with others in similar situations. Created in 2019, the group currently has over 19,000 members that share tips, offer support, and more.

In-person Caregiver Support Groups

For face-to-face and over-the-phone caregiver support, consider the following groups:

• Eldercare Locator: Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration for Community Living. They connect caregivers to services for older adults and their families. In addition, the website has a Caregiver Corner with useful links and resources.
• VA Caregiver Support: For those who are working within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system to get help for their loved one, the VA offers caregiver support coordinators at each VA Medical Center to help caregivers find the right support to meet their needs and to enroll in caregiver programs and services. You can also check out the VA’s National Caregiver Support Line (CSL)— 1-855-260-3274 — which serves as a primary resource/referral center to assist caregivers, veterans, and others seeking caregiver information.
• Mental Health America: Whether the person you care for has ongoing mental health challenges or a sudden episode of depression or anxiety, or you have found the caregiving role to be a burden on your own mental health, there is support available. The Mental Health America network can put you in touch with someone to assist either you or your loved one.
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center: Looking for information and support specific to caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia? The Alzheimer’s Association’s map feature will help you locate a resource group nearest you, which is staffed by trained professionals. Support groups specifically designed for those with early stages of these diseases are offered separately from those who are in the later stages.
• ARCH National Respite Network and Research Center: Caregivers who need respite care or information on how to become eligible for funded care can connect to ARCH National Respite Network and Research Center, free of charge. Included in the support tools is a National Respite Locator Service, which also provides information for each of the 50 states’ respite agencies.
• Local resources: For folks looking to connect in person, you can also speak with your loved one’s doctor for recommendations. Many support groups meet at hospitals, libraries, community centers, and places of worship. You can also ask on your community’s Facebook or Nextdoor pages to see if anyone has recommendations.
• Friends and family: While support groups of any kind are incredibly helpful, it’s important not to forget about your natural support group — your family and friends.

When you reach out to a support group, you can gain back a sense of understanding, awareness, and acceptance. By engaging in a support group and connecting with others, it can help alleviate stress and affect both you and the person for whom you’re caring in a positive way.

Hope this helps!

Kiwi and Mango