What is a Support Group?
Support Groups are generally held monthly and are attended by those who care for a person with dementia or are family members or friends of someone with dementia. Groups meet for about two hours at a local venue. A leader, often a health professional, plans with group members an interesting and relevant program for a year and facilitates the meetings.
What are the purposes of a Support Group?
Support Groups aim to provide an opportunity for participants to assist one another in learning new skills for living with dementia, sharing their wisdom and experience and engaging in mutual problem solving.
The groups work to foster a friendly environment where there is laughter and camaraderie as well as learning. Participants in these groups can choose the extent to which they talk about their own experiences; differing opinions are always encouraged.
In some areas there are specific groups, for example, groups for multicultural carers, male carers and adult children of people with dementia.
Contact us for more information
There are over 200 Support Groups in New South Wales. To make contact with a Support Group, or for more information, call the Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or email your request to us.
updated: 22 December 2008
created: 17 February 2003
