A support group is a gathering of people who have common needs and interests who want to share their feelings and experiences so all may learn to cope better. For the family caregiver of an Alzheimer's patient, a support group is a safe place to talk about the caregiving experience and its impact on the family; it also is a place for laughter, education, and healing.

All support groups are facilitated by volunteers who have received training on group dynamics and Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association provides ongoing education for the facilitators, meeting notices, informational materials, and speakers for all affiliated support groups.

The Chapter sponsors two specialty support groups: one is a 7-week program for patients and caregivers experiencing the early stages of dementia, while the other group was formed specifically for male caregivers.

The Early Stage Peer Group (ESP), provides a supportive environment where individuals with dementia have the opportunity to meet others experiencing similar losses and challenges. Their caregivers meet concurrently, but in a separate setting, where they learn about the illness, community resources, and other caregiver issues, in addition to benefiting from the support of one another.

The male caregiver group meets monthly, like the family support groups, but membership is restricted to men caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. In this supportive environment the participants are able to talk about issues and aspects of caregiving that they might not feel comfortable sharing in a different setting.

Currently, the Greater Houston Chapter also is sponsoring a support group in Spanish and a support group in Chinese/Vietnamese. These support groups were established in order to better serve our multi-cultural community.

For a list of support groups, you can visit this link or you can contact our office. If you would like to start a group in your area (or have us start one on your behalf), please contact Michelle Sonnier by email or at 713-314-1393.

Notice:

The meetings of the Houston First Baptist Church Support Group (7401 Katy Freeway Houston TX 77024 Facilitator - Diane Wells) are suspended from May 2007 until further notice. Please call the HELPline at 713-314-1313 if there are any questions.

The Chapelwood United Methodist Church support group will not meet in the month of September.