8 Incredible Benefits Of Caregiver Support Groups

You’ve probably heard about caregiver support groups before. They’re one of the most commonly recommended self-care approaches for caregivers.

But, if you’ve never tried a support group before, you might be skeptical. 

Will talking to a bunch of strangers really help? After all, they don’t have the power to change anything. As you’ll see, there are plenty of benefits, many more than you might have imagined at first. 

If nothing else, why not give a support group a try? 

The Benefits Of Caregiver Support Groups

First, let’s talk about the idea of support groups. They’re simply groups that bring together people going through similar situations. 

That mightn’t sound like much, but wait, they’re surprisingly powerful.

1. Social Connection

Support groups give you the chance to connect with others. This is true even if you’re participating in a remote group, rather than an in-person one. 

We can’t overstate the importance of social connection. 

As Johann Hari points out in Lost Connections, humans are geared for community. We do best when we have others alongside us and are pursuing common goals. Many aspects of this have been lost in modern society – and this loss can make life much more difficult.   

Support groups are particularly helpful because you’re getting meaningful connections with others. This can help you to feel seen and heard, which is incredibly valuable. 

2. Other Members ‘Get It’

Caregiving brings up many emotions and unusual challenges – ones that people on the outside often don’t understand.

You might have noticed this if you try to get support from friends and family members. Sometimes they offer a ton of well-meaning (but useless!) advice. Others may be critical instead, thinking you should be doing things differently – or that you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. 

Every caregiving situation is unique. Heck, every person is unique. 

So, people in your caregiving support group won’t understand your situation completely, but they’ll get it more than the average person.  

3. Advice, Resources, and Information

Unasked for advice sucks, it really does. 

But, useful advice from people who know what they’re talking about? That’s much more appealing. 

Caregiver support groups can provide you with this. After all, these are your people. They know what the caregiving journey feels like. 

Some may even know how to respond to specific challenges that you face. For example, you might get advice about incontinence products,  self-care ideas, or the best meal replacement shakes. 

A good support group can lead to improved caregiving skills and personal coping strategies. Both outcomes can make your caregiving journey much easier.  

4. Learning About The Future

Caregiving is often a day-to-day journey. It’s tough to think much about the future when you’re trying to survive the current moment. 

The conversations in a caregiver support group are a valuable source of information about the future. They give you an idea about what might happen and how different situations may feel to caregivers. 

This is particularly true in the case of dementia caregiving. While many caregivers don’t want to think about how the disease will progress, this is a crucial topic to think and talk about. 

5. Difficult Topics Get Easier

Support groups give you practice at talking about the difficult topics, including those that many of us want to ignore. 

The conversations in your support group might even empower you to have difficult conversations with family members or help you learn to stand your ground.

Members of your support group might even had such conversations themselves. They may be able to give you tips about what works and what doesn’t. 

6. Improved Mental Health

Simply having people to talk to can be powerful for your mental health. Research shows that people with social support have significantly reduced risk of depression and even sleep better. 

You might find that your mental health, mood, and even physical health improves in other unexpected ways too. 

For example, the conversations you have in a support group can help you feel better about yourself – reminding you that you’re doing a fantastic job and are a good person. Such a perspective can then make self-care easier. 

7. You Might Make Friends

Support groups aren’t just a place to find support. They also provide opportunities to meet new people. Some of those connections could turn into new friendships. 

Making friends with other caregivers is powerful, as you know the stresses and unpredictability that each other faces. Even if you can’t meet up often, you can talk on the phone or through social apps. 

8. Reduced Caregiving Guilt

Finally, let’s talk about caregiver guilt.

This is a big issue for many caregivers, where you feel guilty about all the things you’re not doing well. All the mistakes you make. All the times you get frustrated, emotional, or angry (I’m certain there are plenty of those).  

This guilt often gets more pronounced when you’re isolated. 

It’s easy to think that you’re just failing as a caregiver or even as a human. 

But, when you’re around other caregivers, you realize you’re just fine. None of us do well all the time – and caregiving seriously takes it out of you. It’s no wonder that you sometimes struggle  

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Support Group

Look For The Right Fit

If you’ve ever been to therapy, you’ll know that finding a good fit between you and your therapist is crucial. Without this fit, you can’t build a good relationship of trust, which then makes everything else possible.

Sometimes, you get lucky on the first go, while other times, you need to try multiple therapists before you’re successful.

Similarly, support groups aren’t all alike. Some may work well for you, while others could be difficult or frustrating. 

For example, some support groups and group members have a overly positive outlook, to the extent that they diminish any challenges you’re experiencing. Others may go to the other extreme, so there are plenty of complaints and not many positive perspectives. 

Ideally, you want somewhere in the middle – a group where it is safe to express your struggles and overload, but not one that is going to bring you down. 

Have Realistic Expectations

Our experiences are always influenced by what’s happening and our expectations. Having realistic expectations ensures that you get the most out of your experience. 

What does this mean for support groups? 

For one thing, they’re full of humans. Stressed and often overwhelmed individuals, with their own traumas and triggers. No one in the group will get things perfect every time. 

And, everyone will have their own values and opinions, which may sometimes clash. 

So, you may still get the same classic dramas that you find with any other social group. Perhaps more, given that everyone is struggling. 

Having a support group won’t fix everything either. Your life will probably still feel overwhelming at times. 

Other Types Of Social Support

There are clearly many benefits of caregiver support groups. Yet, they shouldn’t be your only source of social support. 

For one thing, caregiver support groups focus on caregiving. That’s incredibly helpful in many ways. 

But… it risks keeping you focused on your caregiving role. 

Let me say this now, too much focus on being a caregiver can be a serious problem. This type of focus risks getting you lost in the role, to the point that you lose touch with your own identity. 

Finding groups that support your hobbies and passions is another powerful approach. 

And, why not look at women’s circles as well (there are similar groups for men as well)? Women’s circles are a little like support groups in that they’re supportive environments. 

Yet, the focus is quite different. 

You’re often getting women from all walks of life. You might even be the only caregiver in your particular circle. 

Many circles also have specific practices that allow for deep connection and support. This can include a focus on not providing advice (unless specifically requested). 

Final Thoughts

With all the benefits of caregiving support groups, they’re seriously worth a try. 

Are they perfect? Not at all. Are they great for everyone? Also, no. 

But, they’re a powerful resource that helps more than you might expect. Why not give one a try? At worst, you’ll get some social contact and stretch your comfort zone. At best, you’ll get a ton of connection, some new friends, education about caregiving, and even improved health.