Elizabeth Thompson is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional (CMDCP), Positive Approach to Care Trainer (PAC), Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT).
The Arrow Senior Living Support Group meets in a virtual setting every Tuesday at 1:00 pm Central, except on the third Tuesday of the month, 6:00 pm Central. Sandy McGatha, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, serves as host and facilitates the gathering.
This free event was originally started for family members with residents living in Arrow Memory Care Neighborhoods. It soon expanded to families interested in learning more about the neighborhoods a place for their loved ones. Now, the support group is open to anyone and everyone as a resource to individuals struggling through a family member’s dementia journey.
With no special topic, the support sessions are driven by participant stories, concerns, and questions. Individuals who join the group don’t have to talk but are encouraged to share their journey with others. Camaraderie is built by hearing other people share similar stories and suggestions of what to do or what not to do. That emotional support is very helpful.
According to Elizabeth Thompson, providing self-care is so important when you are caring for someone with dementia. There are many different emotions you go through – grief, anxiety, and pressure to make the right decisions. Support group is another aspect of taking care of yourself.
“Sandy is great to offer tips on self-care and ways to take time out. She gives a lot of resources and advice that is very helpful for the caregiver,” Elizabeth commented.
Some benefits of a support group include self-care, sharing information, education, knowledge, and development of new friendships, some participants support each other outside the group.
“When you’re caring for someone with dementia, there is still that stigma. You feel alone, isolated, and don’t know where to go to get help. Sometimes it takes that person standing on the outside who has experience and knowledge to give you those tips of what you can do to help yourself,” said Thompson.
Arrow Senior Living Support Group Zoom location: https://zoom.us/j/2096854630
