Online Support
Support Groups
Professional Support
Accessing Assistance

When providing care for a loved one, new responsibilities and increased demands often interfere with the caregiver’s ability to invest in relationships and maintain social interaction. The care recipient may feel frustration and despair from changes that hinder or alter their ability to perform and participate in regular activities. For the family and caregiver, guilt, helplessness, and anger are common emotions.

At a time when the need for social and emotional support is the greatest, caregivers often face feelings of isolation that jeopardize their health and well-being. Social interaction plays an important role in maintaining the caregiver’s health by providing an opportunity for communication and an outlet for emotional expression. In some cases, the open communication rallies increased support from family and friends and provides opportunities for temporary periods of respite and relief from caregiving demands.

From sharing their experiences with others, especially those experiencing similar situations, caregivers realize their feelings are a normal and natural response to the challenging demands of providing care. They learn that they are not alone and gain suggestions and assistance in coping with the changing relationship with their loved one. Sources of social and emotional support include family, friends, religious organizations, online support groups, live support groups, and professional assistance.

Online Support

Through various online discussion boards, caregivers may post questions, provide answers, and share experiences and suggestions to help provide support to one another throughout the caring process.

Family Caregiver Alliance Online Support Groups
Provided by the Family Caregiver Alliance of the National Center on Caregiving

AARP Discussion Boards
Provided by AARP

Support Groups

Often support groups are organized according to medical conditions. As the scheduled dates, locations, and times of support group meetings change, contact information for local chapters is provided, if available. Links to the national association, which can help in locating an active group near you, are also provided. Another source of support may be found in religious institutions. Check with each institution’s main office, as many offer support groups or lend their facilities to others who coordinate group meetings.

Alzheimer Disease/Dementia
Arthritis
Cancer
Depression
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Grief and Loss
Heart Problems
Huntington’s Disease and Other Movement Disorders
Osteoporosis
Parkinson Disease
Stroke

Professional Support

To allow the caregiver to find time for personal reflection and/or social interaction, respite services offer temporary relief to caregivers by providing for the comfort, supervision, and care of a loved one.

For individuals in need of professional counseling to effectively cope with the emotional demands and even depression that sometimes results from providing care, mental health services are available.

Accessing Assistance
Contact us for assistance with locating support groups, or e-mail us your questions.