Providing education, support, and resources
to guide you on your dementia care journey
Serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in Northern California
Support Groups
Care partner support groups, whether in-person or virtual, not only offer comfort and reassurance, but they are able to provide a sense of community that can reduce the feelings of isolation and stress that so often accompany caring for one with dementia. Interacting with others who are in similar situations can help care partners improve their coping skills while learning strategies that can support them on their care journey.
All of Sage’s support groups are facilitated by experienced
dementia specialists and/or licensed therapists with a
background in dementia care best practices.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Sage offers a variety of support groups to meet your particular needs. View the descriptions below to select a group that's right for you.
Most of our groups are virtual and are held using ZOOM.
Groups are limited to ten individuals.
All groups meet monthly with the exception of the hybrid group that meets for ten consecutive weeks (see below).
There is no charge to participate in our monthly drop-in groups, but a donation of $20/session is greatly appreciated and enables us to offer our low cost services to the community.
The fee for our 10 consecutive week hybrid Education and Support groups is $200. This fee covers the sessions as well as the materials and resources that participants will receive. (See below for details.)
Download a copy of our Ground Rules for Support Groups to learn about confidentiality, commitment, and expectations for behavior.
Contact us on the link below for more information about meeting days and times, to join a group or be placed on a wait list, or if you have any other questions about our support groups.
You don't have to do this alone!
Spouses or Partners of Persons with Dementia
Meets Monthly
Providing care for a spouse or partner with dementia can be an over-whelming task. Feeling depressed, frustrated, angry, and resentful are all normal emotions as one watches a loved one’s cognitive and physical abilities progressively decline. It is common to feel a sense of loss as the relationship changes and plans for the future need to be adjusted. Interacting with others who are in similar situations gives the caregiver an opportunity to not only learn from others but gives them a safe space to express and manage their own emotions.
Adult Children of Persons with Dementia
Meets Monthly
Caring for a parent with dementia can be especially challenging. The emotional toll of witnessing a decline in a parent’s cognitive abilities, the potential role reversal from child to caregiver, the unpredictability of the disease progression, and the demands of providing care while managing one’s own personal life and relationships can be daunting. And adding to all that are the difficult issues that may arise in trying to work together with siblings and/or trying to provide care from a distance. Having the opportunity to connect with others in similar circumstances enables you to share, vent, learn, and give and receive support.
Care Partner Support Group
Meets Monthly
While Sage offers groups that are geared more to a specific type of care partner (spouse, adult children), this group is open to any family member or friend who is helping to provide care for a loved one.
Often we think of providing care as a full-time responsibility; however, those living with dementia may have many friends and family members in their support system. A care partner may help with shopping, help with tasks around the house, or supply a ride to the doctor’s office. A care partner may live with the person, may live in nearby, or may provide care from a distance.
Regardless of the role you play, you ARE
a care partner and can benefit from support.
Education and Support
Meets weekly for 10
consecutive weeks
Our 10-week groups are designed for those interested in a hybrid experience consisting of both education and support. Each week has a theme and our dementia specialist/facilitator will share information about the topic for the first thirty minutes, followed by group discussion and sharing.
Weekly discussion topics include but are not limited to:
dementia basics; cognitive and behavioral changes; stages of dementia; changing relationships; coping with grief and loss; stress and self-care; getting help and transitioning care; legal, financial, and end-of-life issues.
After completing the ten lessons, group members may choose to transition to another monthly group that is less structured and can continue to meet their needs.
Persons with Mild
Cognitive Impairment
Meets monthly for 10 weeks
A new diagnosis of MCI can, understandably, be difficult to accept. While it may only be natural to think about the worst-case scenario, receiving a diagnosis early on
actually has its benefits - it gives
you and your family more time to
learn about and plan for the challenges that may lie ahead. And, remember, a diagnosis of MCI does not always worsen or lead to another dementia.
Led by one of our trained dementia specialists, this group offers education, coping strategies, and practical tips for dealing with the cognitive challenges that may lie ahead. And, connecting with others in similar circumstances can help you to keep an open mind, focus on the positive, and remember that you are not alone.
TBD
Meets monthly
coming soon
Support Group Documents
The Eight Central Needs of
Dementia Care Partners
Support Group Agreement
(in-person)
Virtual Support Group Agreement
(online)
Let us know what you need
Please contact us to inquire about one of our support groups.
You can complete the form below or email Gia or Debbie directly.