Written by Ellen Boucher, BSW
The Value of Support Group Attendees
Providing care can be a lonely and stress-filled life experience. Seldom can an active care partner find someone in their world with whom they can fully discuss practical, emotional, or any of the additional tough issues needing to be dealt with unless that other person has also been a care provider. Attending a support group provides an opportunity to interact with others also experiencing the roller coaster ride that is called caregiving in a safe and welcoming environment. Attendees play an important part in both giving and receiving at each meeting. Even before any words are spoken, just by arriving at a support group meeting, each care partner is already giving to the others and receiving from them – there is now that awareness of “I am not alone.”
That awareness grows to understanding when attendees begin speaking. Although the circumstances such as stage of the disease, living situation, relationship and other aspects may be different, there are common threads of exhaustion, concern, fear, grief, loss, and anger. Whether you are the person sharing or one of those listening, the giving and receiving continues to flow through each interaction. This is because our support groups are focused on respect and courtesy, with the goal of sharing the meeting time so that all have an opportunity to ask questions and work together to provide validation – as well as brainstorm strategies.
The Role of Support Group Facilitators
The role of the facilitators is to help ensure that the attendees have a smooth flow throughout the meeting. Making sure that everyone has an opportunity to ask questions, allowing them to provide feedback to each other, keeping the group on topic, and helping move away from controversial subjects are just some of the responsibilities of a support group facilitator. They make sure that attendees are guided to other Alzheimer’s San Diego resources for individual issues and support, keeping the group as a place where everyone can participate in discussion. Support groups are intended to provide an overall discussion about caregiving experiences so that the attendees who are each living in different situations can hear what other others are doing and know that they are not “the only one.”
If you are interested in becoming a facilitator, have experience with caring for someone has lived with dementia, are willing to do the required training, and are able to commit to volunteering a minimum of 18-24 months, please email Ellen Boucher, our Support Group Coordinator, at eboucher@alzsd.org for more information. Alzheimer’s San Diego will be offering a training class. for facilitators in the near future.
To discuss support group options please call our office at 858.492.4400 to speak with one of our Clinical Care Coaches or view our list of support groups here to join one now.
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