A Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide to Creating a Support Group for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide basic guidelines to successfully establish a support group for caregivers of persons with dementia. Support groups should provide its members with a community of support, as well as coping and management strategies to improve daily function of loved ones. This should improve the care provided, and the quality of life for the caregiver and the care recipient. Suggestions related to establishing the foundation and creating a meeting agenda are discussed with examples from a recently established group. The appropriateness of the speech-language pathologist as a support group facilitator and the application of these guidelines to establishing support groups for other clinical populations are discussed.

Keywords

support group caregiver dementia speech-language pathologist

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References

Alzheimer’s Association National Office. (2010). Caregiver support group facilitator manual. Chicago, IL: Author.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2005). Knowledge and skills needed by speech-language pathologists providing services to individuals with cognitive-communication disorders. Rockville, MD: Author. Available from http://www.asha.org/policy

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2007). Scope of practice in speech-language pathology (Scope of practice). Rockville, MD: Author. Available from www.asha.org/policy

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