Caregiver Resources, Events, and Support Groups in Massachusetts

By Seniorlink on Oct 28, 2021 2:45:07 PM

In Massachusetts, over 840,000 people care for a family member at home. See below for a collection of free resources, events and support groups for family caregivers in Massachusetts.

Free Monthly Support Groups for Family Caregivers (Spanish-speaking & English-speaking)

Caregiver Homes offers a free monthly virtual Support Group for Spanish-speaking Caregivers on the 2nd Friday of the month at 6PM, and for English-speaking caregivers at 3:00 PM. Click Here to learn the upcoming topic and receive the monthly invitation. Topics vary each month and in the past included Parkinson’s Disease, Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Holistic Approaches to Reduce Caregiver Stress, and Vision Health Awareness.

Other Free Resources in MA

Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod helps families and individuals live their fullest lives. Created by caregivers for caregivers, the Alzheimer’s Center provides an array of personalized services to the 10,000 families, individuals, and caregivers on Cape Cod currently living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses.

Free online support groups are run via Zoom videoconferencing. Zoom can be downloaded to your tablet or iPad, smart phone, or computer with audio and camera at no charge. If it is your first time attending, or you require technical assistance, contact Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, (508) 896-5170 or email info@capecodalz.org. The Support Center suggests a Zoom “test run” prior to your meeting. If you, or someone you know would like to attend, but does not have the technology, please let the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center know!

FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS BY AREA

OUTER CAPE (Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham)	1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Molly Perdue
BREWSTER	1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of the month	1 pm – 2 pm	Molly Perdue
FALMOUTH	1^st and 3^rd Mondays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Anne Suggs -Counselor
HYANNIS	1^st and 3^rd Wednesdays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Vaughn Harding, LICSW
YARMOUTH/ HYANNIS	1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Anne Suggs -Counselor
ORLEANS/ CHATHAM	2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Molly Perdue
MASHPEE	2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of the month	1 pm – 2 pm	Molly Perdue
SANDWICH	2^nd and 4^th Mondays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Anne Suggs-Counselor
CAPEWIDE Men’s Caregiver Groups	2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of the month 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of the month	11 am – 12 pm 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm	Vaugh Vaughn Harding, LICSW
HARWICH	2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Anne Suggs -Counselor
PLYMOUTH	1^st Tuesday of the month	11 am – 12 pm	Elaine Abrams, RN

EVENING FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS

EVENING #1- Adult Children	1^stand 3^rd Thursday of the month	5 pm – 6 pm	Molly Perdue
EVENING #2	2^ndand 4^th Thursday of the month	5 pm – 6 pm	Molly Perdue

SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH COGNITIVE LOSS

WOMEN’S AD GROUP	2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month	11 am- 11am – 12 pm	MELM Melanie Braverman
PERSONS LIVING WITH COGNITIVE LOSS	1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of the month	12pm – 1 pm – 2pm	Melanie Braverman
EARLY STAGE GROUP	2ND and 4th Tuesdays of the month	1 pm 1 pm – 2 pm	Melanie Braverman

BEREAVEMENT GROUPS

BEREAVEMENT GROUP 1	1^st and 3^rd Monday of the Month	11 am 11am -12 pm	Ann Geagan, LICSW
BEREAVEMENT GROUP 2	2^nd and 4^th Monday of the month	11 am 11am -12 pm	Ann Geagan, LICSW

Caregiver Nation Community – Seniorlink’s free-to-join Facebook group has created a virtual forum for family caregivers to share ideas and discuss challenges with other caregivers in similar circumstances. Caregiving can be overwhelming as well as rewarding. Please share this resource with your clients and their caregivers.

Caregiving Resources for Communities in Western MA – please join and share this free resource dedicated to all the wonderful caregivers in the Western MA area. Caregiving for your loved ones is not easy. This free information provides support and resources to help with caregiving questions. Community events and resources are posted regularly. Please select this link to email the administrator for helpful community events and resources.

Caregiving Resources for Communities in Central MA – please join and share this free resource dedicated to all the wonderful caregivers in the Central MA area. Caregiving for your loved ones is not easy. This free information provides support and resources to help with questions, various events, and resources. Central MA updates are posted regularly. Please select this link to email the administrator for helpful community events and resources.

Older Adult Behavioral Health Collaborative. Beth Israel is running, Digital Opportunities for Outcomes in Recovery Services (DOORS), a smartphone training for individuals with lived experience of Behavioral Health conditions. https://files.constantcontact.com/50fd0f25001/ce6fc7b0-f48d-45f9-bd82-6a34c0f10570.pdf

Tech Goes Home https://www.techgoeshome.org/ is dedicated to addressing the digital inequities that deny people the opportunity to succeed. Tech Goes Home helps to bring computers, Internet, and training.

Digital Peer Training https://digitalpeersupport.org/ is dedicated to co-producing peer support trainings and technologies to address health and recovery needs of people with a lived experience.

Health Care for All (HCFA) (https://hcfama.org/) is focused on immigrant populations, and works with any age. They connect residents to the Health Connector, the Health Safety Net, and to behavioral health. HCFA is also working on a vaccine equity program, managing 8 cities. Contact Hannah Frigand 800-272-4232 for referrals.

Franklin County Resource Network News

Marion Hohn, mhohn@cwjustice.org, Sr Supervising Attorney Benefits Unit, Central West Justice Center. We are affiliated with Community Legal Aid and provide free civil legal aid to low-income or elderly clients in Western and Central Mass. An intake for services can be done at www.communitylegal.org or 855-252-5342.

You are invited to please feel free to refer clients who have issues with DTA (TAFDC, EAEDC, SNAP, P-EBT), DHCD EA shelter/Homebased, MassHealth, childcare or veterans’ benefits. Virtual chat or presentations about our services or any of the public benefits programs they work with can be confirmed. For questions, contact Marion Hohn directly at (413) 686-9015 or mhohn@cwjustice.org.

International Language Institute (ILI) of MA serves immigrants and refugees living in Western MA who want to learn English. Classes will be virtual through the Fall. Beth Reddish, Career and College Advisor at International Language Institute of MA (ILI) can be reached at beth@ili.edu or (413) 238-1532. Inquiries can be made to Beth Reddish or Macey Faiella at macey@ili.edu.

Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Mass Home Care, and the MassTech Collaborative’s Mass Caregiving Initiative provides a monthly webinar series to help family caregivers in Massachusetts find information and resources regarding their caregiver responsibilities, as well as tips to care for themselves. Please contact MassCaregiver@mass.gov with any questions or comments.