Caregiving Support Group

Group Type: Support Group

Goals of the Group:

• Sharing personal stories and experiences related to caregiving.
• Creating a community of people with similar experiences to provide mutual support and understanding.
• Welcoming all parts of the participants, including those experiencing difficult emotions related to caregiving.

Who Is The Group For?

• Caregivers: Individuals who provide assistance to those who may require extra help taking care of themselves.
• Specifically for caregivers of children with pediatric chronic kidney disease.

Discussion Topics:

• The challenges of caregiving.
• Self-care and why it is not selfish.
• Managing health and financial issues related to caregiving.
• Feeling overwhelmed and pulled in too many directions.
• Stressful experiences, strong feelings, and frustrations.
• Changing roles and shifting family dynamics.
• Missing out on things due to caregiving responsibilities.
• Factors that help us help others.
• Silver linings: learning things you never knew.
• Asking for, accepting, and giving help.
• Finding joy and connection despite the stress.

What Will We Talk About?

• Exploring the challenges faced by caregivers.
• Emphasizing the importance of self-care and how it benefits the caregiver and the person being cared for.
• Discussing strategies for managing health and financial issues related to caregiving.
• Sharing experiences of feeling overwhelmed and finding ways to cope.
• Expressing stressful experiences, strong feelings, and frustrations in a supportive environment.
• Discussing the changing roles and shifting family dynamics that come with caregiving.
• Sharing what you miss out on due to caregiving responsibilities and finding ways to address these longings.
• Identifying factors that help us help others and ways to maintain these helpful behaviors.
• Discovering silver linings: the positive things you have learned through caregiving.
• Practicing asking for, accepting, and giving help.
• Finding ways to experience joy and connection despite the stress of caregiving.

Glimpse of the Session:

• Each session will begin with a check-in, allowing participants to share what they are feeling or experiencing in the moment.
• The facilitator will guide the discussion based on pre-selected topics or the needs and preferences of the group members.
• There will be opportunities for participants to share their personal stories and experiences, and for the group to provide support and understanding.
• The session will conclude with a check-out, allowing participants to reflect on what they have learned or experienced during the session.

Please note that the session topics, order, and other details may be subject to change based on the needs and preferences of the group members and facilitators.