The Alzheimer’s support group is made up of care partners, family members, and loved ones of those with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Although these people begin as strangers, they quickly become friends and, in a sense, a family.

The support group leaders are community members and/or a health care professionals. The meeting may focus on emotional support and sharing experiences, or it may focus on education, with experts speaking on topics such as legal issues, nutrition, caregiving techniques and community resources.

The purpose of the Alzheimer’s support group is to offer individuals support and information that is specific to dementia.

Support groups are open to the public and free of charge.

Alzheimer’s support groups encourage members to share information, give and receive mutual support and exchange coping skills with one another. Support group members share practical suggestions for caring based on their caregiving experiences.

Caring for an individual with dementia requires different techniques than those needed to care for someone who is not cognitively impaired. Experienced care partners have found that some methods of providing care, ideas that may not be found in books or articles, can make caregiving easier. Sharing those ideas in a support group can prevent care partners from having to “re-invent the wheel.”