How Support Groups Save Marriages.

Being a caregiver for someone with dementia can become all consuming. It takes over our lives. Even the most supportive spouse will start to feel resentful if everything you try to do together is dependent on the whims of your parent with dementia. They are entitled to wonder – When is there going to be time for me?

We can see the look in their eyes when we are going on, yet again, about Dad’s latest escapade with putting the mail in the washing machine.

This is where support groups are so valuable. They allow you to talk and share your experiences with people who understand what you are going through. You may even pick up some tips about how to deal with the washing machine incident. Chances are someone else will have experienced something similar. It allows you to get it off your chest, put things in perspective and maybe come up with a solution to some of the issues. Then, when you go home, you can talk to your spouse about something else and maybe, just maybe, have a little quality time for yourselves.

The support group I joined was run by the Alzheimer’s Association and helped me tremendously in the early years of my mother’s illness.

If you go to alz.org you will be able to see the support groups they offer in your region. They are free and open to everyone. Some other organizations and churches have support groups too. Research and see what’s available in your area.

Give it a try. You won’t be sorry.