Increase Your Strength as a Caregiver

Coping with Alzheimer’s disease, or a related disorder, does not have to be a lonely experience. Participating in a family support group can help in a variety of ways:
  • By providing educational information about the disease, such as how to handle difficult behaviors or tips to handle daily caregiving tasks.
  • To help families learn about and get in touch with essential community services.
  • By giving caregivers a chance to share feelings with those who are experiencing the same kind of situations and emotions.
  • To diminish feelings of isolation that caregivers often experience.
  • To increase the caregiver’s strength, ability to cope and to adapt to changing aspects of the disease.

                   More on support groups
                    
                   Caregiver Orientation education series
                 
                   Caregiving Tips
                 
                   Alzheimer Family Connections Program
               
 
Support is Available in Your Community!
                  
Nineteen support groups meet throughout the Northern Indiana community to assist caregivers in decision-making, handling fears and emotions, finding needed services and managing day-to-day activities.

Provided here is a list giving the location and contact numbers for every group in Northern Indiana.  Please feel free to contact these support groups directly or call us for more information at toll-free Helpline, (888) 303-0180 or at (574) 232-4121.
 
Meeting Place
 Meeting Time
 Facilitator
Elkhart County
Trinity United Methodist Church
2715 E Jackson Blvd
Elkhart, IN
 4th Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
 Loretta Madden
Tara Trevino (574) 295-0096
Greencroft Senior Center
 Greencroft Dr
Goshen, IN
 2nd Tuesday 6:00 p.m.
 Cindy Janzen  (574) 295-7422
Brenda Buller
Sailor Community Center
Hubbard Hill Estates
28070 CR 24
Elkhart, IN
3rd Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
 Jeff Zwart (574) 295-6260
Judi Peck (574) 295-6260
Fulton County
Community Resource Center
625 Pontiac St
Rochester, IN
 1st Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
 Amber Basham (574) 224-5354
Kosciusko County
Miller's Merry Manor
1630 S County Farm Rd
Warsaw, IN
 1st Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
 Sydney Roy  (574) 267-8196
LaGrange County
LaGrange Community Hospital
207 N Townline Rd
LaGrange, IN
 3rd Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
 Vicki Gump  (260) 463-2172
Lake County
Tolleston Branch Library
1113 Taft St
Gary, IN
 1st Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
 Trina Lynch-Jackson  (219) 883-4026
Franciscan Communities Adult Day Center
205 Franciscan Dr
Crown Point, IN
 2nd Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
 Michelle McAllister  (219) 661-5302
Emmaus House of St. John the Evangelist Parish
11350 School St
St. John, IN
 2nd Monday at 6:30 p.m.
This is a general Caregiver's Group for any disease
 Jim and Pat Koeling (888) 202-0180
Patti Eakins (219) 661-5200
Kathy Morgan
LaPorte County
Bethany Lutheran Church
1st and G Streets
LaPorte, IN
 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.
 Bob Johnson (219) 326-5488
Mary Anne Mawhorr (219) 879-7931
Michigan City Senior Center
Washington Park
Michigan City, IN
 3rd Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
 Mary Anne Mawhorr  (219) 879-7931
Marshall County
Marshall County Council on Aging
1305 W Harrison
Plymouth, IN
 3rd Tuesday at 10:00 a.m..
 Donna Sikorski  (574) 935-4511
Beulah Bozenski  (574) 291-3182
Porter County
Portage St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center
1859 Harrison Blvd
Valparaiso, IN
 2nd Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
 Barb Kubiszak (219) 477-5433
Terri Dickus
David Sharp  
Saint Joseph County
Milton Adult Day Services
922 E Colfax Ave
South Bend, IN
 1st Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
 Betty Kwasneski  (574) 291-0756
Beulah Bozenski (574) 291-3182
Christ the King Lutheran Church
17195 Cleveland Rd
South Bend, IN
 2nd Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
 Fran Butkera (574) 273-9225
Beulah Bozenski (574) 291-3182
Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library
Main Library
209 Lincolnway East
Mishawaka, IN
 1st Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
This is a group for adult children caring for their parents
 Linda Jacobs
call Alzheimer's Services office for information (574) 232-4121
Alzheimer's Services - Faith in Action
922 E Colfax Ave
South Bend, IN
 4th Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
This is a general Caregiver's group for any disease
 Shirley Carlson (574) 232-2909
Carol McComas
Steuben County
Carnegie Library of Steuben County
322 S Wayne
Angola, IN
 1st Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
 Paula Headley  (260) 665-3920 - mornings
Donna Holcomb (260) 665-2161