Online Support Groups Help Persons Caring for Aging Relatives
Park Ridge, IL September 8, 2004 — Eleven Groups Available at Caregiving.com
“I?m so glad I have found a group that I can discuss things with.” –Member of an online support group, who cares for her father-in-law
It can be very frustrating when you begin to care for a family member or friend suffering from a chronic illness or disability. And, then it can be very lonely when you continue to provide care for five, seven, even ten years. As a young adult, you may feel helpless and overwhelmed as you watch the caregiving stresses and struggles affect your family.
Caregiving.com offers eleven online support groups (the first group was introduced in the fall of 1996) that help persons involved in caring for an aging relative or friend. The site offers a variety of groups, including for those just beginning in their caregiving role; for those who have been a caregiver for several years; and for young adults affected by a caregiving situation in their families. These support groups are available free of charge and can be joined by visiting http://www.caregiving.com.
Recent studies estimate that there are about 44.4 million caregivers who provide unpaid care to another adult. Many family caregivers provide intense hand-on care with little assistance from other family members. In a recent survey sponsored by Caregiving! newsletter, respondents indicated that the toughest challenges of caregiving are: Finding time to socialize with family and friends; Finding affordable help; and Managing the hands-on care responsibilities.
Through these online support groups, family caregivers find the socialization they crave and the ideas and support they need to find more help–without having to leave their homes and at any time of the day or night. The members of the groups communicate via e-mail messages, sharing stories, struggles and successes. The busiest time for the group is often at night, past 8 p.m., when their care recipient has gone to bed and the family caregiver has some free time.
“Family caregivers may feel isolated in their roles, often because of the reality of their situations: They are so short on time, and often help, that they find it difficult to attend a support group meeting,” explains Denise M. Brown, Publisher and Editor of Caregiving.com. “But they also are isolated by their experiences as caregivers. They may not feel comfortable sharing their feelings of guilt, anger and frustration with ‘just anyone’ because ‘just anyone’ may not understand.
“But another family caregiver will. And, that’s why these groups are so successful. No one in the group will say: ‘Oh, you don’t mean that’ when a caregiver vents. The group constantly validates each other’s feelings and emotions. That’s a powerful benefit of joining and participating in the group.”
Another support group helps those family caregivers transitioning out of their roles, either because of their family members? nursing home placement or death. “This is the time that family caregivers are trying to disseminate their experiences and to determine the next phase of their lives,” says Brown. “Having a support system, like an online support group, will help family caregivers with a successful transition.”
Caregiving.com is an online support center for persons caring for an aging relative and is sponsored by Tad Publishing Co., publishers of Caregiving! newsletter and various publications for family caregivers and the health care professionals who assist them. For more information, contact Denise Brown at 773-334-5794 or visit http://www.caregiving.com.