Social media today is considered as one of the best places to find support as a caregiver.
Back in the days, forums where a big deal, but now social media has taken center stage.
Social media groups have seen a rise over the years and that surge has killed some popular forums you use to know. Good forums still exist, in fact, I have made mention of the best in this article.
Now a days, professionals caregivers from have migrate from forums to social media sites like Facebook groups and Pinterest community’s because their high engagement potentials.
Most people say support groups on social media have been of great support to them as they go about the difficult task of taking care of their love ones.
In this post I have handpicked the best social media caregivers support groups every care giver should join.
I myself I am part of these groups and I can personal testify that this group have help me go through the head aching task of being a caregiver.
But first…
Who is a care giver?
Many people are not familiar with who care givers are and I must say they aren’t many in the world. If you have an elderly love one who is handicap, or who has been diagnose with dementia, and you spent time taking care of their needs like helping them out with their medications or finances, then you are a CAREGIVeR, and be proud because helping others is helping yourself.How I Came Up with This List
There are tons of caregiver support groups and communities on the different social media platforms I mentioned here, so coming up with these groups and boards was a very difficult task.
I followed some criteria’s before putting up each group and board on my list. I took into consideration:
- The number of members and followers on each support group and board (a rough estimate since people are still joining even at this minute as you read this post).
- Target audience (in this case inexperience caregivers like you and me).
- The value of the content posted on these support groups, boards and communities daily.
- Spam-free activities.
Note: Membership and follower-ship numbers aren’t valuable criteria’s to determine how valuable these groups and boards are, what matter is the content quality and if their activities are spam free.
Benefits of caregivers support groups and communities
Care givers support communities or groups can be found online and most importantly, some support groups are dedicated to specific health conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson, spousal care giving etc. care giving support groups offer benefits like:
- Reduces isolation, loneliness and empowers you.
- Care giving support groups can forged friendship, and increases socialization.
- Care givers support groups help lessen the burden of handling problems alone.
- Great place to meet like-minded people, to ask questions, share ideas or tips and learn new things.
- Care givers support group can increase your coping skills.
- Care givers support groups accommodate everyone including shy people who only participate at odd hours.
16 Best caregiver support groups to join on Facebook
Most of the Facebook groups listed here are closed groups, you will need to answer some questions and accept their terms and rules before joining.
#1. Alzheimers and Dementia Caregivers Support
This is a group that supports care givers with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, lessen their frustration and support their efforts.
Members: 8,891
Owner: Shawnee and Gail
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#2. Dementia Family Support
This is group that supports care giver providing care for dementia patients.
Members: 8,891
Owner: Caron Sprake
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#3. Memory People
This is dementia and Alzheimer’s support group started by a dementia patient Rick Phelps in 2010 to support caregivers and patients who are in need of information concerning caring. Memory people is a non professional group that offers real time support.
Members: 21,320
Owner: Rick Phelps
Type: closed
Topics: Elderly care, Care giving support
#4. Support for Vascular, Alzheimer's & Mixed Dementia
This group provides support for dementia patients and their care givers.
Members: 13,038
Owner: Rebecca Lloyd Lewis
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#5. Molly's Movement
This is a private group created by molly and Joel who both have experience in care giving. It is also a question and answer structured group.
Members: 141, 938
Owner: Molly and Joel
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#6. Caregivers Space Community
Care givers Support community where professionals meet to share their experience on how to take care of the elder and disabled persons 24/7.
Members: 5,219
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#7. Caregiving Sons
This is a supportive community for sons providing care to the elderly, wives, parents etc. very few men provide care compare to women, so be among the one in the million. You can equally connect with family members in this community.
Members: 51
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#8. Daughters Community
This is a supportive community for women providing care to love ones, husband, kids, parent etc. women are natural care givers.
Members: 574
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#9. Caregiver Collective
This is a supportive group where caregivers can connect and share resources such as personal stories and it is also provide room to seek answers to questions.
Members: 418
Owner: Jennifer Levin
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#10. LGBTQ Caregivers Community
This is a new supportive care giving community providing care to the elderly especially those of the queer and polyamory community.
Members: 12
Owner: The Caregiver Space
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#11. Young Caregivers Community
This is a supportive care giving communities for care givers under the age of 35 years.
Members: 388
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#12. After Caregiving Community
This is a supportive community of caregiver’s alumni to discuss their experiences and life opinions on care giving.
Members: 406
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Care giving support
#13. Long-Term Care Community
This is nonprofit community for those who have been caring for their love ones for a long time.
Members: 353
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#14. Eldercare Community
This is a community for elderly care givers to share ideas and find support as they go through the challenge of caring for a dementia or Alzheimer patient.
Members: 881
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#15. Spousal Care Community
Here is a supportive community of spousal caregivers to talk about how they care for their partners, boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands etc.
Members: 875
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Spousal Care, Care giving support
#16. Caregiving Parents
Connect with other parents who care for kids with chronic illnesses.
Members: 188
Owner: Cori Carl
Type: closed
Topics: Children’s Care, Care giving support
How to join a Facebook group
Step 1: Go to facebook.com and log in to your account.
Step 2: Go to the search bar and search the kind of group you want to join.
Step 3: Click the join group button and a dialogue box will appear with questions for you to answer, after you submit this answers wait for the admin to approve your membership. The reason for this dialogue box is because most of these groups are closed.
Step 4: Facebook suggest related group you can join directly, this save you the time of searching other groups.
10 Best Caregivers boards on Pinterest
Few years back, Pinterest was seen more as a social media site but now the site is shifting more to becoming a search engine. But as of now it operates as both a search engine and a social media side.
Pinterest offers lots of great collaborative boards where some of the top bloggers, brands and experts create rich pins on well researched topic that re-directs you to their websites.
To join any of these boards, all you need to do is click on the follow radio button and become a follower so as to receive notifications in your feed.
And if you want to join as a board collaborator, you will have to send a message to the person who created the board.
Quite often on the page of some of these boards you will see rules on how to join the board. You may be told to comment on any of their latest pins to get an invite.
Pinterest pins and board are more captivating and engaging compare to other social media sites.
I will talk more about how to join boards later.
Have Tips and resources to use and communicate with the elderly facing difficulties.
Followers: 12,444
Owner: a place for mom
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#2. For Caregivers of the Elderly
This board contents resources to support care givers.
Followers: 16,541
Owner: Golden Carers
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#3. Senior Caregiving 101
This board contents great tips and advice for professional caregivers.
Followers: 16,541
Owner: Care.com
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#4. Caregiver Tips For Dementia
This is a collaborative group board dedicated to helping moms with dementia.
Followers: 7,116
Owner: Tara Jacobsen
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#5. Caregiver Support
Followers: 2,417
Owner: Adventures of a care giver
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#6. Alzheimer & Dementia Caregivers
This board is all about helping the sandwich generation of caregivers.
Followers: 7,133
Owner: Tara Jacobsen
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#7. Caregiver Tips
This board contains useful tips on how to care for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
Followers: 2,431
Owner: adventures of a caregiver
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#8. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Tips
This collaborative board contents tips and articles on caring for love ones be it in assisted living, home or nursing home.
Followers: 7,123
Owner: Tara Jacobsen
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#9. Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Resources
Followers: 7,123
Owner: Tara jacobsen
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
#10. Caregiver Guide
This board contains practical guides for care givers.
Followers: 736
Owner: Caregiverlist
Topics: Elderly Care, Care giving support
How to join a Pinterest Board
Step 1: Log in to either your Pinterest business or personal account.
Step 2: Search the keyword term for example “caregivers”
Step 3: Click the drop down menu and select board.
Step 4: Click the follow radio button to get the latest notification about that board.
9 Other Online Caregiver Support Communities
For shy people who like to remain anonymous online and who like to participate at odd hours, there are tons of caregivers support groups you can Google search but here is a useful list I put up for a start.
#1. Caring.com Support Groups
Caring support group is an online community for inexperience and experienced caregivers seeking information and support for the elderly and their love ones.
This site offers subgroups for spousal and parental care-giving, diabetes care-giving and many other conditions and situations.
#2. Agingcare.com Alzheimer's & Dementia Q&A
This is a community to find answer on how to care for the elderly.
#3. Caregiver Action Network (CAN) Care Community Forums
This non-profit community is working to improve care ranging from children’s care to elderly care.
#4. Smart Patients Caregivers Community (in partnership with Family Caregiver Alliance)
This free to join online community is for both caregivers and patients to share and learn from one another.
#5. Cancer Support Community
Offers support for person suffering with cancer. Also has a toll free number for in-person cancer support.
#6. Online Parkinson's Disease Support Groups
#7. Strength for the Moment Prayer
Prayers, love, and inspiration for caregivers
#8. Remember For Alzheimer's
Helps families and caregivers deal with the challenges of Alzheimer.
#9. Caregiver Stress
Care for yourself while caring for others.
Now! Make your choice
Senior caregiver’s social media support groups, boards and communities are great resources to find like mind people to ask questions and share ideas on how to handle and engage your elderly love one in activities.
So with all the resources I have listed above, the final decision is yours. Let me know in the comment section the best community you found most useful.
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