Caregivers Support
Interested in being a part of this group? Have questions?
Email caregivers@HereToStayWTG.org and we’ll get back to you.
Why and how neighbors who serve as caregivers are working together at Wintergreen
Anyone who helps a family member or a friend with essential emotional support or with activities of daily living during a short- or long-term disability is called a “caregiver.” Any community working to make “aging in place” safe and practical will look for ways it can support its caregivers.
One proven way to assist caregivers is to help them connect with their neighbors who have similar situations.
Regular meetings that allow caregivers to come together have proven to be useful in exchanging useful information about local resources, offering practical advice, and also offering emotional support.
A moderator leads Here to Stay in Wintergreen’s support group for caregivers. Here to Stay in Wintergreen’s caregivers’ support group moderator is Gordon Walker, who has extraordinary credentials.
FAQs:
What if I don't want to talk about my caregiving?
You can come and listen only. Or only ask questions. One rule of the group is that what is shared is confidential. The goal is to be reassuring so everyone can feel comfortable sharing their experiences and feelings, but it’s not required.
What does it cost?
It’s free. And this Here to Stay in Wintergreen caregivers program is open to the entire community. Membership is not required.
To register and learn about when and where the meetings are held and get your questions answered, call or email Mary Gurr at 434-361-1972, marygurr@gmail.com
• There is local caregivers respite center for those families dealing with members who have mild to moderate dementia. Learn more here.
About Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Most families are not prepared for life with dementia. They’ll turn to the internet looking for information and advice. And they’ll find so much that it can be overwhelming; it’s complicated and there are many, many “variables.”
A caregivers support group can be helpful in putting all of the explanations and recommendations into practical, real-world context.
"Each person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia may progress differently and in their own time," explains the Virginia Dementia Road Map. Published in 2021, the 36-page PDF offers a useful overview of what caregivers might expect.
"For people with dementia wanting to stay at home, it’s key to find the right balance between independence and safety – and to anticipate changes,” explains a handout regarding safety concerns for people with dementia.
• Links to some excellent advice for caregivers of those with dementia recommended by the University of Virginia's Memory and Aging Care Clinic are here.
Go HERE is see this area's board on aging's "tools" designed to offer caregivers useful help and insights.