Caregiver Support Groups
June 7, 2019
WalkWise was built to help seniors remain active and independent. We continually talk about how your loved one is doing, how we will alert you if they fall, and how our device can help make walkers more fun and engaging.
But, who is the “You” in these catchy lines we use on our social media channels so often?
The “you” are caregivers. Caregivers are the backbone of our application, and we try to thank the selfless caregivers that are part of the WalkWise family. Caregivers help us advance our product, give feedback about our alerts, and share stories of their day-to-day struggles (and successes!) so we can try to understand what they go through and better optimize our services.
Being a caregiver is tough and sometimes it may seem like you’re on an island alone, but there are many resources for you to be heard, to be helped, and to find peace with your efforts. Listed below you will find a few caregiver support groups and other resources to get connected with people like yourself.
Social Media Support Groups
Caregiver nation is a support group on Facebook. Their main purpose is to connect people who are dealing with the same tasks in life. They have 5,000 members and are growing every day. You can see countless posts a day of encouragement and tips and tricks for caregiving. Caregiver nation is sponsored by Seniorlink (we will get to them later!).
Caregiver Support Group is another fantastic resource for caregivers to connect via Facebook. They have 12,000 members and the activity is very high. Post topics range from caregiver guilt to learning more about your loved one’s conditions. They had almost 3,000 conversations a month and last week added another 149 members. One thing to note about Caregiver Support Group is that they have rules against product promotions, bullying, and their number one rule is to be kind and courteous.
Caregiver connection is slightly different from the two above. They primarily post links and resources for you to follow outside of social media. There is a lot of activity within the comment sections, but this isn’t a group for conversations about your personal experiences. This group is recommended to follow if you find yourself wanting to read professionally written material about caregiving.
Caregiver Support Websites
The American Association of Family Caregivers is a website that provides caregivers with educational courses, a caregiver hotline to talk with someone who understands your worries, and a membership marketplace to buy discounted caregiving supplies. This organization represents over 100,000 family caregivers and can guide you through unique, daily challenges.
Senior Link is a tool that helps caregivers receive emotional coaching and support. Senior link gives caregivers the ability to connect via an app when they have questions. As a member you have access to a library of tips on how to take care of your loved one, but just as important, how to take care of yourself. Seniorlink only operates in select states, so you will want to visit their website and check if your state is one they operate within.
The final great web-based resource for caregivers is usa.gov. They have different links for specific caregiving struggles and resources for help. From Alzheimer’s caregiving to care for caregivers themselves, this web page is a great tool for anyone that is a caregiver.
In your own home town.
Many towns and cities have their own caregiving groups that may meet in coffee shops or have weekly luncheons. These groups are usually small, but it’s a great place to decompress and share your stories with one another. A quick google search will identify groups that meet near you. If you live in a rural area, there are sometimes monthly meetups that are a short distance away.
Caregiving is hard work and there are many resources to potentially lighten the load. Stay connected with other caregivers and share your story. Every day there are new caregivers facing new challenges. If you feel alone, between the groups written above, there are nearly twenty-thousand people to hear your story and help. WalkWise has your back, too; make that twenty-thousand and one!
“Walking man’s best medicine” — Hippocrates
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