Online Support
Support Groups
Professional Support
Accessing Assistance

Understanding the Emotional Toll of Caretaking
When you’re providing care for a loved one, increased demands and responsibilities can interfere with your ability to invest in relationships and maintain social connections. While the care recipient may feel frustration and despair at not being able to participate in regular activities, the caregiver and family may feel guilt, helplessness, and anger from the added pressure and responsibilities.

The Importance of Support and Socialization
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 a caregiver’s health by providing an opportunity for communication and an outlet for emotional expression. In some cases, opening up to family and friends can increase their support and provide you with opportunities for temporary periods of respite and relief from caregiving demands. Sources of social and emotional support include family, friends, religious organizations, online support groups, live support groups, and professional assistance.

Finding Support from Other Caregivers
From sharing their experiences with others, especially those in 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 they now have with their disabled or aging loved ones.

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.