How A Dementia Support Group Can Empower Caregivers
Caregiving is an important role in healthcare. Family caregivers take on big responsibilities. The responsibilities are especially significant for a dementia patient. About one in three American adults are caregivers. Many individuals report higher levels of stress than people who aren’t caregivers.
There are many causes of caregiver stress. These include working long hours, money worries, and lack of help. There are also other commonly overlooked sources of stress. For example, caregivers often feel helpless or overwhelmed by their role. They don’t always feel empowered to provide the best care.
Empowerment is important for helping caregivers provide the best care. It also helps caregivers manage their own well-being. In this blog, we’ll talk about:
- The many benefits of joining a dementia caregiver support group
- Why it’s important to feel empowered in your care role
- How participating in a support group can empower you as a caregiver
- How to find a support group that works for you
The Benefits Of Joining A Dementia Support Group
Studies prove that caregiver support groups provide several benefits:
- Caregivers experience improved mental health. They have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Caregivers have less stress. They feel their care role is less of a burden.
- Caregivers feel more supported and less isolated when participating in support groups.
- Support groups educate individuals and provide practical care skills.
- Caregivers feel more empowered in their roles when they’re actively engaged in support groups.
- Caregivers in support groups engage in more self-care, improving their overall health and wellness.
- Patients are less likely to go to nursing homes, or this move is delayed when caregivers are involved in support groups.
Interested in Trualta’s support groups? Check if you have free access.
Why Empowering Caregivers Matters
Empowerment in healthcare is an important issue. Empowerment means having the authority to take an action or make a decision. In healthcare, this means feeling confident and informed enough to make important decisions regarding treatment and care.
The healthcare industry doesn’t always empower patients or their caregivers. If you don’t feel empowered, you might allow others to make decisions for you. You probably feel helpless, alone, and as if you don’t have control.
Empowerment in caregiving is important for several reasons. Empowered caregivers are:
- Less stressed.
- More likely to take care of their own health and well-being.
- More confident in their care roles and more in control.
- Able to communicate better with healthcare providers.
Caregiver empowerment matters. It leads to better care for patients, and it’s important for caregivers, too. Joining a support group is one of the most effective ways you can feel more empowered to provide care. Next, we learn why support groups are so empowering.
How A Support Group Empowers You As A Caregiver
Joining and actively participating in a caregiver support group is one of the best things individuals can do when they become caregivers. A support group can help if you feel lost, overwhelmed, or alone. It can help you feel more confident and informed about your role.
Researchers who study caregivers have outlined several factors that boost empowerment. You can get many of these from joining and participating in a support group. Here are all the ways a dementia support group will empower you.
1. A Support Group Helps You Understand Your Role
It’s difficult to feel empowered in your care role when you don’t really understand it. If you’ve never provided care before, you might feel lost at first. Clearly defined expectations are empowering. They help you understand new responsibilities and practical, day-to-day tasks.
A support group can help you understand your role by providing positive examples. Caregiver support groups are made up of your peers. These are other caregivers, and many have been in the role for a long time. They share their experiences. Everyone’s situation is different, but nevertheless, sharing helps newcomers understand what to expect.
Acceptance of your role is also essential to empowerment. You’ll continue to feel lost until you accept your new role and how it will change your life. Joining a support group is like a reality check. It can help you accept everything involved with being a new caregiver.
2. A Support Group Encourages You To Take A More Active Role In Care
Engagement is important for feeling empowered. You’re no longer passive when you’re more actively engaged in your role as a caregiver. You aren’t just letting things happen around you. You are taking active steps to manage the situation.
A caregiver support group is an active step. It might not feel like it at first because it doesn’t directly involve caring for your family member. However, once you recognize the importance of joining and participating, you’ll feel more empowered and engaged.
3. A Support Group Can Help You Feel More In Control
Many caregivers feel like they don’t have a lot of control. Becoming more engaged and active as a caregiver will give you a better sense of control. A sense of control is essential to empowerment. If you don’t feel that you have control over a situation, you won’t be motivated to engage or take action.
Joining a support group is an active step you can take to gain control in your new role. Once you realize you have the resources you need, you’ll feel more empowered to manage the situation.
4. A Dementia Support Group Provides Information & Resources
Information is essential for being empowered. You cannot make effective decisions without knowledge and information. Caregiver support groups are often educational. A trained facilitator leads discussions. They also provide structured information, skills development, and resources.
You will also learn from the experiences of other caregivers in a support group. They share their challenges and successes. They explain how they overcame challenges and what led to success. This is invaluable information for a new caregiver. It will help you feel more prepared to take on your role.
Empowerment requires knowledge but also access. You need access to the information and services that will help you be a successful caregiver. Support groups provide resources that help you gain access to what you need. This might include healthcare services, social workers, financial support, and more.
5. A Support Group Teaches You How To Ask For Help
Many caregivers feel alone and overwhelmed. They don’t have enough practical help. This is especially true if you don’t have a care partner or other family caregivers. You can do your job as a caregiver best when you share the responsibilities. This isn’t practical in every situation. It can also be difficult to ask for help.
Being part of a support group can help you feel more confident in asking for the help you need. Other participants can provide practical tips for talking to other family members. They share learning experiences for cooperating with those who share the caregiving burden. You’re more likely to feel more empowered to provide good care when you’re not doing it alone.
6. Dementia Caregiver Groups Build Supportive Connections
Providing dementia care is an isolating experience. Caregivers who have social and emotional support are more confident and empowered. A family caregiver support group is a ready-made social network. It’s made up of people who understand your experiences.
Listening to the experiences of others is helpful. It’s also useful to share your own experiences. Sharing in a safe, supportive environment provides emotional release and boosts mental health.
7. A Support Group Improves Your Relationship With Your Care Recipient
The relationship you have with the family member you care for is another aspect of empowerment. You’ll feel less empowered to provide good care if the relationship is strained. It’s not unusual to have a difficult relationship with someone with dementia, but you can improve it.
You can learn skills for building your relationship in a caregiver support group. It provides an important perspective on the difficult aspects of your relationship. Other people have these challenges, too. The group can also give you practical tips for relating to your loved one. Understanding their experiences will help you feel more compassionate and provide better care.
How To Find An Empowering Support Group
Not all caregiver support groups are the same. Different types of groups have different purposes. Some groups may not provide what you need or may not be a safe, supportive environment.
Search for a group in your area and attend meetings to find the group you like the best. A trained facilitator should lead it. Dementia support groups should provide information and resources. Most importantly, the group should feel like a safe space for sharing experiences.
Start your search with your loved one’s medical team. They may have recommendations for positive and welcoming dementia support groups. You can also try local community organizations, government agencies, and social service providers. National groups, like the Alzheimer’s Association, also provide lists of local support groups. If you’re interested in online support groups, check if you have free access to Trualta.
If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to find a group specific to dementia. These groups will provide the best information and resources.
Otherwise, you may be able to find groups that are specific in other ways. For example, you might want a group for adult children of dementia patients. You can also find groups for specific communities, like Spanish speakers or the LGBTQ+ community.
Once you find a group you like, stick with it. You’ll get the most out of a support group when you get to know the participants and learn from each other.
References
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784
- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/studies-show-benefits-caregiver-support-programs
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8126489
- https://www.alz.org/help-support/community/support-groups
