Caregiver Support Goes Online

Caregivers are extraordinary givers. They give their time, attention, and energy to a family member or client in need. The act of caregiving, while rewarding, can also prove to be difficult and, in some cases, overwhelming. Not only is a caregiver responsible for his or her own well being, but also the care of someone else.

A caregiver’s long hours and complex responsibilities may conspire to cause anxiety. Often they are isolated from others because their responsibilities preclude socialization. These realities make it important for caregivers to reach out for support for themselves.

To assist caregivers, MVES has started a caregiver support group online. Each Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. a caregiver support specialist will facilitate a discussion via the Internet. Participants enter a chat-like area on the MVES site and may ask questions about caregiving or offer suggestions to the group. Group members can remain anonymous and are asked only to give a username. Members can join the discussion at any time during the hour and need not stay for the entire duration. Convenience for the caregiver is the foremost attribute of the online support group.

There is no special software needed to use the online support group. For those who have never chatted online, the interface is very easy to master. The facilitator can help you get started. As with most support groups, the MVES online support group will benefit from numerous participants with many questions and suggestions.

Please join us next Tuesday to join in the discussion. If you have suggestions for other times that the support group should be held, please send an e-mail to webmaster@mves.org.