So often we caregivers remain isolated in our own little caregiving world. When we do that, we not only cheat ourselves out of much-needed time away but also out of the encouragement we can receive from like-minded people.

Ok, yes, I’m putting in a plug for caregiver support groups. More and more are popping up across the country as caregiving skyrockets. Many gather at local churches but welcome anyone interested.

I currently attend a group that meets once a month. A licensed counselor facilitates it, but that’s certainly not a requirement. We usually take turns talking about the caregiving issues we’ve faced that month, and other members jump in with suggestions or encouraging words. At other times, the facilitator will start us off with a leading question that anyone can answer, and it generally leads to good discussion. Occasionally, we have speakers.

I’ve walked away from every meeting with something that helped me personally.

An atmosphere of “I’ve been there and want to help” unites members in a shared bond of misery and joy and makes caregiver groups a great resource for practical information, too. At one meeting I asked about neurologists and psychologists in the area for a friend whose mom was experiencing a host of bewildering symptoms. Members responded with a number of possible providers.  At a recent meeting, I learned about a nearby church that offers respite services for caregivers. It probably didn’t exist when I needed it, but I would have loved to have known about something like that.

Though they take time and planning to attend, group meetings are invaluable on many levels. If you don’t know of a group, ask other caregivers in your church or circle of friends, research online, or ask at assisted living facilities or nursing homes about available groups. Many states have an agency on aging that might help you locate a group or even provide respite care so you can attend. Your state Alzheimer’s Association may also know of possibilities.

It may seem impractical or even impossible to attend sometimes, but a little research can lead to opportunities we hadn’t thought of. Ask your church about starting a group that includes a companion meeting to provide activities for care recipients while you meet. Arrange for a friend or relative to stay at your home if your loved one can’t leave the house. If all else fails, find a group that meets online.

Remember, you’re not the sick person. Don’t quarantine yourself and miss out on the emotional, social, and practical help you need to navigate this caregiving journey.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tracy Crump dispenses hope in her award-winning book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness (CrossLink Publishing: 2021). A former intensive care nurse, she cared for her parents and her mother-in-law and understands both the burdens and joys of caregiving. Her devotions have been featured in Guideposts books, The Upper Room, and many other publications, and she has contributed 26 stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul® books. She also conducts writing workshops, produces a newsletter for writers, and does freelance editing. But her most important job is Grandma to five completely unspoiled grandchildren.