Find Your Caregiver Community - Connect with Others Who Understand
What Type of Family Caregiver Are You?
The caregiving community is there for you once you know where to look. As a new family caregiver, I didn’t call myself a caregiver. I was a daughter helping her parents or a sister helping out with my brother. It wasn’t until after I started the blog that I learned I was called a ‘family caregiver.’ I felt alone and wondered if anyone else was going through what I was going through. After years of creating content for family caregivers, I have organized the articles, podcasts, and blog posts. Click on the type(s) of family caregiver that you identify with to access the stories, resources, and products that you will help your situation.
How does Happy Healthy Caregiver encourage community?
Community is important – it’s social self-care! There is something powerful that happens when you connect with people who understand what is happening, can listen with compassion, and on your terms, offer some tips or advice that may be worth checking into.
Happy Healthy Caregiver offers in-person and virtual events including:
- Bi-monthly Happy Healthy Caregiver Virtual Cafes. Check out the Events page to register for the next one.
- Twice monthly podcast episodes featuring REAL family caregivers sharing their caregiving and self-care tips.
- In-person meetups in Atlanta, Georgia. Check out the upcoming calendar of events here.
- Whole Care Network is a community I’m a part of where my podcast and digital course are offered. We also have a private Family Resource Community that is available.
- A social media group available 24/7 – the Self Care for Caregivers Facebook Group is administered by two other Certified Caregiving Consultants and me.
- Regular LIVE events on Instagram to interact with the guest and ask your questions.
If you haven’t already joined the Happy Healthy Caregiver email list, consider doing so. This is where I will share about upcoming events, retreats, and other valuable resources and happenings in the care economy.
Where Else Can I find Community?
I recommend doing an internet search and putting in ‘family caregiver support’ and the name of your town to see what comes up in your area. Local resources are valuable because they can lead to recommendations of businesses who can help.
If you are caring for an older adult, you can also look at the Certified Senior Advisor directory. You can also look into your area’s Area Agency on Aging, a government-funded program managed by your state.
You may also want to check out if there is a Certified Caregiving Consultant in your area.
Another place to look is the organization(s) attached to your care recipient’s condition or disease. They may have support groups that meet regularly.
I believe in respite for family caregivers and I am thrilled to be a program guide and ally for Brutally Beautiful. Brutally Beautiful offers virtual and in-person gatherings and retreats.
Once you feel you are connected to a support community, I invite you to see examples of how you can infuse some self-care into your days.
