AgeWell Pittsburgh: On Caregiver Support Groups

Article submitted by AgeWell Pittsburgh. They can be reached at 412-422-0400.

Caregiving can be a lonely task. Often it's just you and your loved one alone in the house, day after day with few others to talk to. Or perhaps you are the only in-town child of elderly parents bearing sole responsibility for coordinating day to day care. Probably there is no one you know who truly understands your roller coaster feelings of anxiety, fear, sadness, and fatigue intermingled with hope and love.

When you couple this reality with the fact that the life span of the chronically ill has been extended, the proportion of the population that is elderly has increased and the current focus of health management has been to encourage the loved one to remain at home as long as possible, it becomes evident that more and more family members will be caregivers than ever before. Research bears out casual observation that social support for caregivers as well as their loved ones in the form of support groups is critical.

What is a support group?

In broad terms, it is a place to go to share emotions and experiences, seek and give advice and exchange practical information with others. There is broad agreement on what support groups offer. Some benefits are:

* A safe haven for sharing feelings in a non-judgmental, confidential atmosphere

* Information about reliable products and services

* A place to learn coping mechanisms, saving you much trial and error

* Advice on what lies ahead, so you can anticipate changes

* Help in dealing with other family members

* TLC from people who truly understand your situation

How are support groups organized? There are many ways:

* Condition-specific groups focus on a particular disease/disability/condition, such as Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis

* Caregiver groups in which the focus is on the caregiver rather than the disease or condition

* Relationship-oriented groups that focus on the relationship of a caregiver to an ill or disabled person, such as parents of children with special needs

* On-line support groups to help those unable to leave home, or who are in isolated areas

What you will want to know about the group?

* Who sponsors it

* Who is the facilitator and what is his or her background

* Is participation required or can you just listen

* What are the rules regarding confidentiality

A few long standing groups that are part of the AgeWell Pittsburgh system are Caregivers Support Groups, MS Support Group, Cancer Support Network and Stroke Survivors Group. There are hundreds more in and around Allegheny County. For more information and options, call AgeWell Pittsburgh at 412-422-0400.