Support Group
Dodge Park Rest Home and Day Club in Worcester, a 60-resident rest home with a separate private social day and respite program, has recently announced the availability of an ongoing Caregiver Support Group for caregivers caring for relatives with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Offering care, strategies and support to caregivers who are caring for loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer’s, Dodge Park’s Caregiver Support Group meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The support group is open to the community and is free.
On-site respite services at the Day Club are available during the Caregiver Support Group meeting, which enables caregivers to attend the meeting and bring along their loved ones who will receive care and supervision on-site – an alternative to leaving the elders at home. All who attend the Caregiver Support Group, including elders needed respite services, are provided with complimentary dinner.
The Caregiver Support Group is led by Elaine Kapperman, LICSW, a geriatric care manager at Jewish Family Services, Micha Shalev MHA, Co-Owner of Dodge Park and Carrie Lindberg, RN who is the Director of Nursing at Dodge Park.
Dodge Park’s Caregiver Support Group is unique because there aren’t many support groups available that are run by a social worker who specializes in geriatric care. The scope of the program and the fact that it is open to others in the community, not just members of the Day Club, also sets them apart.
“A caregiver may experience a wide range of emotions when caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s - from anger, guilt and frustration to fear and helplessness. Not only that, but there are many caregivers who are juggling full-time jobs and their own families and they are stretched both physically and emotionally,”
She continued, “Dodge Park’s two-hour support group lets caregivers voice their concerns and challenges. They learn about new strategies; find support and friendship; and can even take advantage of our respite services. Reaching out to others who are in the same situation helps caregivers cope.”
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