Connecting Caregivers with Online Support Groups

 

caregiver

Finding ways to connect with peers who are also acting as a caregiver for a spouse or aging parent is one of the best ways to manage the frustrations and stress that caring for a loved one creates. Having someone validate and empathize with your situation can help you deal with the guilt, fear, sadness, and anger caregivers often experience. But the demands of being a caregiver often prevent people from connecting with an in-person support group. It is one of the reasons online caregiver support groups are becoming some of the most frequently visited sites on the internet.

What do patients get from online support groups?

Caregivers might doubt how much connecting with people they haven’t met in chat rooms and on message boards can really help. The experts at The Mayo Clinic wondered about that, too. They tackled this question and the insight they gained from doing so:

  • Online support groups provide a forum to chat and share emotions, frustrations, and caregiver challenges with those who are experiencing similar issues caring for a friend or senior loved one.
  • The anonymity of online support groups allows caregivers to be completely honest. That allows them to discover that fellow caregivers are coping with issues that make them feel guilty, as well. It might be the first time they have heard another caregiver admit that they are angry with a parent who has Alzheimer’s because of the impact it is having on their own life.
  • These groups allow participants to share some of the resources and coping strategies they’ve found helpful. It might be a resource for quick, healthy crockpot dinners that make it easier to manage mealtimes or an online meditation video that helps soothe pain for someone living with a chronic illness. 

How can caregivers connect with an online support group?

There are a variety of ways to connect with an online support group comprised of people coping with situations similar to your own. Here are a few that can help you get started: 

  • Family Caregiver Alliance: The FCA is a part of the National Center on Caregiving. This highly regarded group offers caregivers an online community to turn to that understands how they are feeling and can offer moral support to cope.
  • SupportGroups.com: The advantage this site offers to participants is that it can help you connect with a support group that is specific to the challenge you are facing. Groups range from cancer support to anxiety and stroke.
  • AgingCare.com: What caregivers will appreciate about this site is not just the online support groups offered, but a wide variety of free information on topics related to caring for a friend or loved one.
  • Caring.com: A comprehensive caregiver information site, Caring.com offers online support groups, information and resources, as well as ratings and reviews on care providers.

We hope this helps you find a support system that makes managing your role as caregiver a little easier.

 

Do you participate in an online support group? What do you think it offers you that helps you be a better caregiver?

  

We’re here to answer questions and help you make the best decision for care for you or your loved one. We invite you to reach out and talk with one of our care specialists at Fall River Jewish Home today! CALL 1.508.679.6172, where assistance is just a phone call away.

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