MemoryCaregivers Network
MemoryCaregiver Network Groups
Peer Caregiver support groups meet on:
Tuesdays from 1:00-3:00 pm
Virtual Attendance Only
Free & Open to the Public
If you would like to join a meeting or have questions, Mary Donnelly can be reached at network@memorycare.org to discuss participation. After registration you will be provided a follow up email with instructions on how to access the meeting(s) through Zoom. If you should be in need of additional assistance, you may contact MemoryCare at (828) 771-2219.
The Network’s Story
In 2007, a group of MemoryCare caregivers who first met in the Resource Library as they waited for an appointment with their care team, got together and established the MemoryCaregivers Network. For the first three years of its existence, the Network was a volunteer entity with goals of providing peer support to participants, educating the community about dementia from a caregiver’s perspective, and helping to fundraise for MemoryCare’s operations. The group functioned independently of MemoryCare until May of 2010 when they received grant funding, administered through MemoryCare and facilitated by a Network coordinator. Through a combination of grants, fund raising events, donations from Network participants, and designated donations from MemoryCare donors, the group has remained a source of support to the community.
While over half of the Network attendees are enrolled with MemoryCare, it is not a requirement. All Network groups are open to anyone caring for a person with a memory disorder. “We have spouses, children, siblings, partners, and friends,” says Donnelly, “all of whom are there because they are caring for, or concerned about, a loved one.” Some of the Network members live with their loved ones, some are living nearby, and some live across the country. Some have been dealing with dementia for several years; others are new to the challenges. “It’s wonderful to see how the ‘upperclassmen,’ the ones who have been coming for a while, help the new folks. The collective wisdom in the room is remarkable. Everyone tries to help everyone else. Occasionally we have a caregiver who isn’t comfortable yet sharing with family and friends about the disease, so our group may be all they have.”
There are many other excellent organizations in our community that are not under the auspices of MemoryCare which also serve the memory impaired population in our region. These include but are not limited to The Alzheimer’s Association, Land of Sky Regional Council, Mission Hospital’s Caring for Aging Parents Education and Support (CAPES), Project C.A.R.E., adult day programs, and more. We are fortunate to live in a community with many resources for aging adults and appreciate opportunities for collaboration.
“Support groups are very helpful when you’re dealing with a disease like dementia,” says Pat Hilgendorf, former Network staff member. “Most people don’t understand this disease, so it can get very lonely. But we laugh together, cry together, and share information about how we can make life easier for all concerned. It’s as much an education group as it is a support group.”
For more information about Network Support Groups, send an email to network@memorycare.org or call the MemoryCare office at (828) 771-2219.