Support
Groups
Support groups provide a forum for family members and friends of people
with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders to share feelings,
concerns and information and to support each other in coping with the
effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Each group varies in size and frequency
of meetings.
Find a
Support Group near you; consult the map below.
Support Groups Are A Key To Care
Caregiving is hard. Being responsible for the health and well-being of
another individual is a trying task sometimes, especially when that
individual is a loved one. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or
related dementia can make the scenario even more difficult, since a
personal relationship nurtured over the years is intertwined with
emotions, experiences, and memories. It is no wonder that those caring
on a daily basis for a parent, spouse, or other family member can feel
isolated and lost, thinking no one could possibly understand the
situation. Many caregivers ultimately experience depression or a feeling
of hopelessness about their loved one’s diagnosis. But there is help,
found through the Alzheimer’s Resource Agency’s Caregiver Support
Groups, available at many statewide locations.
A crucial component of the Agency’s mission, support groups provide
members with ongoing “back up” for their daily caregiving through
monthly meetings. Held throughout the state and facilitated by trained
staff and volunteers, the groups have filled a gap that often appears
with in-home caregivers; feeling alone. Julie Beatty, Statewide Outreach
Coordinator for the Agency, says that through regular support group
attendance, members “forge new relationships, and provide each other
with hope, knowledge, and new ways to cope.”
Upon diagnosis, the world suddenly becomes full of appointments,
medications, and life-changing adaptations to the entire family unit.
Daily schedules become overwhelming and downright stressful as a primary
caregiver tries to negotiate the maze of Alzheimer’s disease or symptoms
of dementia. Participation in Support Group offers a bit of serenity,
with members sharing experiences and successes in a non-judgmental
environment. “Group support is invaluable during this time of change and
transition,” Julie Beatty emphasizes.
Support in its most simple form can become a lifeline to those facing
the daily challenge of caregiving. By gathering together on a regular
basis, the exchange of ideas and offer of a shoulder by someone who has
“been there, done that” can mean the difference between desperation
today and hope tomorrow. In addition, experienced facilitators can
provide everything from fact sheets on the stages of Alzheimer’s disease
to information about planning for the future. They can assist families
in furthering their own caregiving expertise by signing up for the Savvy
Caregiver classes and ABC presentations. But most important,
facilitators allow group members themselves to be the catalyst to
camaraderie; finding their own sense of belonging and the knowledge that
they are not experiencing the illness alone.
Groups are held statewide. Some groups are facilitated by Agency staff,
some are led by dedicated volunteers armed with information about
Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and the local resources to help
caregivers through the tough spots that inevitably surface. Those
interested in volunteering as a facilitator are welcome to contact the
Alzheimer’s Resource Agency for more information on training and venues
in need of assistance.
Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia does not need to be a consumer
of life’s joy. The right support can give families the hope, the spirit,
and the knowledge to do their job with confidence.
- By Erin K. Kirkland, ADRAA Education Specialist.
Memory Loss Support Group
After receiving a
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, you can experience a range
of emotions. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, feelings can include
denial about having dementia, fear of losing someone important to you,
loneliness because no one seems to understand what you are going through,
frustration with not making yourself understood, sadness, or anger. To increase
education and support for individuals with the illness, the Alzheimer’s Resource
of Alaska is beginning its first support group for people in the Early-Stages of
Alzheimer's.
ADRAA’s Memory Loss Support Group, with optional, separate group for family members, meets weekly for eight weeks.
Meetings are an hour and a half in length and are free of charge.
Staff are
currently screening candidates for participation in future groups. For more
information, call Julie Beatty at
561-3313.
Click the map
for the support group nearest you.
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