Join a Carer Support Group — You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

Caring for someone living with dementia can feel incredibly isolating, even when you’re surrounded by family, friends, or healthcare professionals. The emotional and practical demands of the caring role mean that carers often put their own wellbeing last — and the loneliness that comes with that can be profound.

Joining a carer support group is one of the most effective things you can do to change that.

Why Support Groups Matter

A carer support group offers something that most other forms of support cannot — a room full of people who genuinely understand. Not sympathetically, but from the inside. People who have sat with the same fears, navigated the same difficult moments, and are still showing up.

Being part of a group like this enables carers to:

• Share personal experiences and challenges without fear of judgement
• Gain practical advice and coping strategies from others who understand first-hand what caring involves
• Receive emotional support that reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness
• Access information about local resources, services, and care options

Hear it Directly

Sometimes the most powerful thing is hearing from other carers themselves. In this short video, two carers for someone living with dementia talk openly and honestly about why accessing peer support has been integral to their journey:

The Benefits of Joining

Emotional support

Regular attendance at a support group provides a space where carers can freely express their feelings — fears, frustrations, grief, and the moments that were actually quite funny. Knowing that others have been there too significantly reduces stress and builds emotional resilience.

Practical advice

Members bring diverse experiences and can offer real insights into managing daily challenges — strategies for difficult moments, ways to communicate and connect, guidance on navigating healthcare systems, and advice on legal and financial matters.

Building a network

The connections formed in support groups often extend well beyond the meetings themselves, creating informal networks and friendships that matter long after the caring role changes.

Empowerment and confidence

Sharing experiences and gaining advice helps carers feel more equipped and less alone. That shift — from isolated to supported — makes a genuine difference to how carers approach the days ahead.

Finding the Right Group

There are various types of support groups — in-person meetings, online forums, telephone-based groups, and messaging groups. When choosing, consider what feels most accessible and comfortable. Some groups are facilitated by healthcare professionals; others are peer-led. Both have real value.

If you’re hesitant about joining, it’s worth knowing that groups are confidential and respectful spaces, there’s no obligation to speak until you feel ready, and you can attend as many or as few sessions as suits you.

Local Support in Teesside

Young At Heart ULO CIC runs the In Our Shoes carer peer support group, which meets several times a week and offers a genuinely welcoming space for carers supporting someone living with dementia. There is also a WhatsApp carer peer support group for those who prefer to connect digitally — new members are introduced personally so the group remains a safe and supportive space.

To find out more about both or to request to join, visit youngatheartulo.org.uk

How to Find a Group Near You

• Contact local charities — Carers UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, and Dementia UK all facilitate groups or can recommend local ones
• Ask your GP or dementia care team — they will often know what’s available in your area
• Search online — there are also many virtual groups for carers who find in-person attendance difficult

You don’t have to face this alone. There is a network of support, and it starts with taking one small step towards it.

Carer wellbeing is something we take seriously in the Getting to Know Dementia programme — particularly in Part 6, where we explore what it means to be an advocate, build a support team, and look after yourself alongside the person you care for. Find out more about the programme and upcoming dates.

Sources

• Carers UK. Support for Carers. https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/
• Alzheimer’s Society. Help for Carers. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/help-for-carers
• Dementia UK. Looking After Yourself as a Carer. https://www.dementiauk.org/get-support/looking-after-yourself-as-a-carer/
• Young At Heart ULO CIC: https://www.youngatheartulo.org.uk