The person diagnosed with dementia is often the focus of care, but family members also need support as they navigate the emotions and decisions that come with the situation. One effective way to find that care is through family support groups organized specifically for families dealing with dementia. These groups are often available through memory care communities, social service organizations, online groups and organizations devoted to dementia. If you've considered joining a family support group, you could experience the following benefits.

Emotional Support

Maintaining your mental and emotional health isn't always easy, especially if you're currently serving as the primary caregiver of someone with dementia. You might experience high stress levels or feel anxious or depressed. Talking through those feelings in a support group can help you manage them. You might find validation in those feelings and learn how others have worked through them.

Participating in a family support group can also help you feel less alone. Regular meetings allow you to bond with others who share your experiences. You can also get support as new emotions or questions arise.

Connection to Other Families

Support groups for those affected by dementia are full of other families who are experiencing similar situations. It can feel comforting to be surrounded by other people who understand what you're going through. While other people in your life may try to be supportive, it's not always possible for them to know what it's like to manage a loved one with a dementia diagnosis.

Meeting other families who are also dealing with this disease may encourage you to open up more about your feelings. You may find a strong support network within the meetings. Staying in touch outside the group is a good way for both families to support one another and listen to each other through the ups and downs of the dementia journey.

Dementia Education

Family support groups might include formal education sessions where experts present information and allow for questions. In other groups, members share firsthand experience that can help you work through similar questions or challenges. No matter how you learn the information, dementia education can help you gain new skills and improve how you handle various situations with your loved one.

One specific benefit of the group is the caregiver advice that members can share. You may hear how others handle aggression, confusion or sundowning. Group members might also share how they handle burnout and ways they manage their own care.

Practical topics that might be covered include legal issues and financial considerations. You might learn about what long-term care insurance is and whether it's right for your loved one. Estate planning, covering the costs of memory care and how to manage your loved one's finances are other topics that could come up.

Introduction to Resources

The organizations that run family support groups, along with other group members, may be able to point you to helpful resources, such as dementia medical providers or memory care communities in the area. If you're not ready for a full move, you might seek respite options. The Gardens at Springfield in Springfield, MO, has a memory care neighborhood and furnished apartments for respite stays, for example.

Support groups are also a good place to learn about local resources, organizations and programs that support families facing dementia. Some of these groups might be directly beneficial to your loved one, giving them access to different therapies, care or other services that support their cognitive functioning. Other resources assist the family, which can make your job as a caregiver easier.

Learning Coping Mechanisms

The weight of caregiving for someone who has dementia can cause stress and other side effects. You might also struggle with the emotions associated with the diagnosis and subsequent care. That can keep you from being fully present for your loved one, and it can make it difficult to remain calm and positive.

In a family support group, you often learn coping strategies to help with the stress of caregiving. By practicing those strategies, you can ease some of the strain you feel and provide better care for your loved one. You might feel more confident in your ability to manage your loved one's condition.

Encouragement to Pursue Self-Care

Simply attending a family support group is a form of self-care. You're acknowledging your needs and seeking information that can improve the situation. When you practice self-care, you can be a better caregiver for your loved one.

Talking to other group members might also encourage you to focus more on self-care. You could hear stories about people who neglected themselves while caring for a loved one with dementia. Or, members might share how they balance their own needs with those of their loved ones.

Support Through Decision Making

Caring for a loved one with dementia often comes with lots of difficult choices. You might not always feel sure about the best path forward on your own, but support can help you look at the situation from different angles and make the best decision for your loved one’s care.

One of the biggest decisions is figuring out when it's time to transition to a memory care community. Support groups allow you to hear how other families handled similar situations, and those discussions may help you work through your own choices. For example, if you're helping your loved one downsize their keepsakes, other group members might share the strategies they used.

Breaking Stigmas

You might not know how to talk about dementia in your everyday interactions. Memory loss can carry a stigma that causes people to make judgments. Being around other people who have loved ones with dementia makes it easier to talk openly about the situation. That might encourage you to open up to other people in your life.