Building a Network: The Social Benefits of Caregiver Support Groups
Caregivers often experience feelings of stress, anxiety, loneliness, and even burnout. Managing multiple responsibilities, wondering about how to get through another challenge, and worrying about what’s next – caregiving is not an easy task.
Caregiver support groups are one of the most effective ways to improve mental health and reduce feelings of isolation. By building a network of caregiver peers like you, you can find people who truly relate to what you’re going through.
In this article, you’ll learn about the social benefits of joining a caregiver support group, like:
Interested in Trualta’s support groups? Check if you have free access.
Social Benefits
Caregiver support groups offer many benefits that can help in different areas of life, but the social benefits are some of the strongest. Support groups allow caregivers to connect with others who understand their challenges and provide a safe space to share experiences, build friendships, and feel less alone.
Emotional & Mental Health Support
Caregiver stress, guilt, and shame are all too common. These feelings are especially prevalent among those who are a primary caregiver for a family member at home, like their parent, spouse, sibling, or child.
Sharing your thoughts and feelings with friends and other family members is great, but it’s not always as helpful or validating as you hope it’ll be. You get responses like “It’s not a big deal!” or unsolicited and unhelpful advice that, let’s face it, sometimes leaves you feeling worse or even more alone.
Building a social network of caregiver peers who also take care of a loved one at home provides you with the genuine emotional support you need. These caregivers understand the ups and downs of caring for someone who is aging or has a diagnosis like dementia or a developmental disability.
Having a listening ear to validate your experiences and thoughts can help reduce feelings of shame, guilt, or burden. Other caregivers will let you know it’s okay and normal to feel those emotions, too!
You may be surprised to discover you’re not the only one feeling guilty, just begging the universe for a break, or feeling intense stress about whether you’re providing the “right type of care” or making the “right” decision. Knowing you’re not alone in your thoughts and feelings can have a huge impact on protecting your emotional and mental health as you navigate your caregiver journey.
Reducing Isolation
Some caregivers describe how they’ve drifted away from friends, their community, and even family. Others say they have so many people around them, but still feel alone in what they’re going through.
A caregiver support group allows you to connect with others again. Specifically, others who truly understand what you’re going through. Even if it’s only for a brief time each week, it gives you the chance to recognize you’re not alone in your caregiving journey.
After a few group sessions, you may find you’ve built such a positive network of people you can truly talk and connect with that you choose to contact each other outside of the group as well. Joining a caregiver support group gives you the chance to meet caregiver peers and enjoy more regular social connections and support over time.
Stronger Together
No matter how many experts, family, or friends you talk to, only another caregiver on a similar journey truly understands what you’re going through.
Health professionals and experts are important in ensuring both you and your care recipient are well cared for; however, the real experts are caregivers like you! Caregivers understand firsthand what it’s like to:
- Help a loved one with every daily task
- Navigate the challenges of finding local support and helpful links to resources
- Figure out what there is to do next
- Handle the complexities of managing different aspects of care
- Wonder whether it’s time for long term care
Caregivers can share practical tips and advice in support groups, making the journey easier for everyone involved. By coming together to discuss daily challenges and wins, support groups give caregivers the chance to exchange caregiving strategies, tools, and resources that have been tried and tested by their peers. It’s a great way to learn from each other, proving that caregivers are truly stronger together.
How Can I Find A Caregiver Support Group?
To find a caregiver support group near you, you can:
- Complete an online search. Type something like “caregiver support group near me”. You can also be more specific about what type of support group you’re looking for, like “dementia support group”, “stroke support group”, or “virtual caregiver support group”.
- Ask your care recipient’s healthcare team. They can direct you to support groups they think are right for you. They may also know of ones offered in places you already visit. For example, the adult day service center your care recipient attends or the local aging services office.
- Ask friends, family, or the community. People may surprise you with what caregiver services they know about! And it never hurts to ask. If you’re comfortable, you can also ask your community by making a post in a social media group page dedicated to sharing information about your community. You can find those pages by typing something like “City of ______” in the search bar on Facebook.
Once you find a caregiver support group, be sure to check whether it meets your needs and is the right fit for you.
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