Support groups are vital  for caregivers who may be feeling exhausted and underappreciated. Caregiver support groups foster the sharing of information, insight, advice and encouragement. They provide an opportunity to learn from others who face the same challenges as you, and to talk about your experiences. Support group meetings can give you new approaches to caregiving, ones that worked for others in a similar situation. You also gain the sense of perspective that comes from hearing others talk about their experiences and comparing them with your own.

In the Community or Online

These days, you can choose the type of support group that suits you. Face-to-face community support groups are great if you can take a break from your caregiving responsibilities for a short while. If not, a virtual online support group offers similar help.

Typically, community support groups are made up of people who live near each other and who meet on a set schedule. One of the advantages to this is that because members of the group are from your area, they’ll be familiar with local resources and better understand some of the challenges you face. In addition, taking time off to attend a community support group breaks up your routine, exposes you to new people and allows you time out of the house.

Internet support groups have the advantage of being there any time, day or night. You can log on or post a comment whenever you want. And since anyone can join, you benefit from an extremely wide range of experience and expertise.

Choose well

Not every support group may be right for you. A good place to start is with recommendations from friends, spiritual leaders, and the staff at your community’s Department of Social Services. As a rule of thumb, look for groups that have been around for a while and are led - or moderated in the case of online support groups - by someone with experience as a caregiver and a facilitator.

Another good way to find a support group is to check with your local Sunrise Senior Living community. Most of our communities host regular support groups for caregivers - and our staff would be happy to share with you information about local community resources for caregivers.