Caregiver Support Groups
There are many caregiver support groups online and in local communities. We have listed several of them here. These groups are national organizations, and it is by no means an exhaustive list. Feel free to explore them and choose what works best for you. If none seem like the right fit, you may need to do some light research to find your perfect match. There is bound to be a group for everyone!
Some of the largest online support groups that focus on all caregiver needs include:
Smart Patients Caregivers Community: This is a joint venture between FCA and Smart Patients so that caregivers and other loved ones can join the community for free to share, interact, and learn from each other in a safe, supportive environment. Family caregivers of adults with chronic physical or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s, and other illnesses can share their own expertise with this new community.
FCA’s Caregiver-Online: This is an unmoderated group for families, partners, and other caregivers of adults with disorders such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, brain injury, and other chronic debilitating health conditions. The group offers a safe place to discuss the stresses, challenges, and rewards of providing care for a loved one.
AARP Online Caregiving Community: Caregivers can join, for free, to talk with other caregivers and get answers from experts in the community. You do not have to be an AARP member to call the support line or join the online caregiving community. AARP offers lots of different topics to help you with any situation you may be in.
Caregiver.com: They offer a list of local support groups that you can filter based on your location. These groups meet in-person.
If an in-person support group won’t work for you, and you often find yourself on social media, there are several Facebook caregiver support groups as well. The most popular ones focus on Alzheimer’s and dementia, but Caregivers Hub Support Group and Caregivers Connect focus on all types of caregiving situations.
For more illness-specific caregiver groups, please visit the national websites for each illness:
Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia
Multiple Sclerosis
Cancer
If there is a group that you believe should be on this list, let us know!