Memory Digest

Finding a Support Group

Support groups give people living with dementia and their caregivers a place to share, learn and feel less alone; learn the types of groups, how to find one in person or online, and what to expect at your first meeting.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Caring for someone with dementia, or living with it yourself, can feel lonely. Friends may not understand. Family may disagree. A support group brings you together with people who truly get it, because they're going through it too.

Many caregivers say their group became a lifeline: a place to vent, laugh, cry and pick up practical tips you won't find in any brochure.

What a support group can offer

• Feeling less alone. Hearing "that happens with my mom too" is powerful.
• Practical tips from people who've faced the same problems, from bath-time battles to finding a good aide
• Information about local services, doctors, programs and benefits
• Emotional support for stress, guilt, grief and anger (see Caregiver Stress and Burnout and Grief and Ambiguous Loss)
• A safe place to say things you can't say elsewhere

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) lists joining a caregiver support group among the ways caregivers can take care of themselves.

Types of groups

The Alzheimer's Association offers groups led by peers or professionals, all facilitated by trained people. Many locations offer specialized groups. Common types:

• Caregiver groups: for spouses, adult children and others caring for someone with dementia
• Early-stage groups: for people living with a diagnosis, often meeting separately from or alongside their care partners
• Groups for specific situations (in some areas): adult children, spouses and partners, younger-onset dementia, men caregivers, LGBTQ+ caregivers, or families caring for someone in memory care
• Groups for specific diagnoses: Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and others often have groups run by their own national organizations
• Grief groups: for after a loved one has died, often offered by hospices
• Groups for children and teens in some areas (see Explaining Dementia to Kids and Teens)

In person, by phone, or online

The Alzheimer's Association says its groups meet virtually or in person, depending on location.

• In-person groups build local friendships and often share neighborhood resources.
• Video or phone groups work well if you can't leave the house or live in a rural area.
• Online communities let you post a question at 2 a.m. The Alzheimer's Association runs ALZConnected, a free online community and message boards for people living with dementia, caregivers, family and friends.

How to find a group

1. Call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900. Staff can tell you about groups near you or online.
2. Search the Alzheimer's Association support group listings for your area.
3. Ask your doctor's office, memory clinic or hospital social worker. Many host groups.
4. Check with your local Area Agency on Aging. Find it through the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116).
5. Ask at adult day programs, senior centers, libraries and places of worship.
6. For specific diagnoses, contact groups such as the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) or the Lewy Body Dementia Association.
7. Veterans and their caregivers can ask about VA caregiver support (see Resources for Veterans).

What to expect at your first meeting

• Most groups start with introductions. You can share as much or as little as you like.
• A facilitator usually guides the conversation and keeps it respectful.
• What's said in the group stays in the group.
• Some meetings have a guest speaker on a topic like legal planning or managing behaviors.
• It's fine to just listen the first time.

Finding the right fit

Not every group is right for everyone. It may be worth trying a group two or three times before deciding. If it doesn't feel right, try another: a different time, a different format, or a group closer to your situation, such as one for spouses or for younger-onset dementia.

A good group should leave you feeling supported, not more drained. If a group is mostly complaints with no help, or if anyone pushes products or services, look elsewhere.

Can't get away?

Getting to a meeting can be hard when you're the only caregiver. Ideas:

• Join an online or phone group.
• Ask a friend or family member to stay with your loved one for an hour.
• Look for groups that offer activities for the person with dementia at the same time.
• Use an adult day program or Respite Care to free up time.

Support for people living with dementia

Early-stage groups help people with a new diagnosis talk openly about what's changing, share strategies and stay socially active. Many people find them a good place to talk through telling others about a diagnosis. See also Living Well with Dementia.

For more help lines and organizations, see Helplines and Support Organizations.

Sources

1. Alzheimer's Association: Support Groups
2. Alzheimer's Association: ALZConnected online community
3. National Institute on Aging: Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver

Not medical advice. This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual. Talk with a doctor about your situation.

Related articles

• Helplines and Support Organizations
• Caregiver Stress and Burnout
• Grief and Ambiguous Loss
• Living Well with Dementia
• Telling Others About a Diagnosis