Virtual Caregiver Support Groups: A Convenient Alternative
Caregivers often describe feelings of isolation, loneliness, and even burnout during their caregiving journey. Taking care of a loved one is tough. This is especially true when you don’t have the support you need. Whether your care recipient has a dementia diagnosis, is managing multiple chronic illnesses, or is facing the challenges that come with being an older adult, supporting them with daily care takes dedication, effort, and lots of time.
Studies show that support groups are proven to improve caregivers’ well-being by connecting them with peers to gain informational, social, and emotional support. However, the challenge is finding the time and energy to add one more thing to the list.
Virtual caregiver support groups are a great alternative to traditional in-person groups. They offer the same benefits, if not more.
The Benefits Of A Virtual Support Group
Time Efficiency
Getting dressed, gathering your belongings, getting in the car or bus to commute, finding the location, driving back… These time suckers are non-existent in a virtual support group. As a caregiver, you’re busy enough. Many find it challenging to find time for the basic everyday things, let alone have another commitment to get out of the house for.
But, support groups are important. You don’t want to stop yourself from gaining the benefits of joining one just because it’s hard to find the time. A virtual group offers you the opportunity to attend in a time-efficient way. Simply grab your computer, tablet, or even just your phone, and you’re there! You only invest the time of the group itself, rather than having to dedicate all that before and after, too.
Practicality
Virtual support groups offer the same benefits as in-person groups and are also much more practical.
You may be one of the many caregivers who act as the primary caregiver for your care recipient. If you and your care recipient live together and they need all-day support, planning an outing to join a support group can be daunting. A virtual support group means you can still be home with your care recipient. No extra planning is needed to find another person or respite care each time you want to go. You’re simply just in a room nearby!
Comfort
Virtual support groups offer a different level of comfort. Aside from being able to be cozy on the couch and wear pajamas, being in the comfort of your own home allows you to feel more comfortable sharing and opening up about personal experiences. Being in an in-person group is not for everyone; it can be intimidating! A virtual support group may be just the thing to ease your nerves and feel more comfortable sharing what’s been going on and what’s on your mind.
So grab that blanket, your laptop, and a cozy warm drink, and get comfy!
Anonymity
In a world of over-sharing, you may not like the idea of sharing even more. But you still want the emotional and informational support that a caregiver support group can offer.
Anonymous support groups may be just the thing for you. Anonymity is a possibility that in-person groups just can’t offer. If you’re joining a caregiver support group virtually, some groups allow you to participate with your camera off and even without a name. Chat features or microphones allow caregivers to still share if they’d like, without the pressure of giving away identifying information. These anonymous groups are also more often facilitator-led, so if that’s something that is important to you, a virtual, anonymous option may be the one for you.
Information Sharing & Gathering
Let’s face it, resources and information are most commonly found online. If you join a virtual support group, sharing resources like helpful links to respite care services, the Alzheimers Association, or a local senior center is so easy since you have that chat function readily available to copy, paste, and save. You don’t have to worry about remembering the source someone shared, or feeling badly you didn’t bring a pen and paper to write something down – it’s all at your fingertips when you join online support groups.
Increased Options
Last but not least, online support groups open up more opportunities for connection. An in-person group inevitably limits you to the locations, peers, and types of groups that are local to you. You may specifically want a grief support group, or a dementia support group, but they’re just not offered close by. Joining a group virtually can help you find the exact group of people you’re looking for – without you having to take a plane to get there!
Conclusion
A virtual support group comes to you in the comfort of your own home. Minimal planning and maximum ease so that you can still gain all there is to benefit from a caregiver support group. Allow yourself to have the social, informational, and mental health support that a caregiver group can offer you.
Interested in seeing what virtual caregiver support group options are available to you? Check to see if you have free access to Trualta.
References
