1st Thursday Caregiving Support Meeting

When a person hears that his / her loved one is living with Dementia, reactions range from denial, anger, fear, and helplessness.  Doctors diagnose Dementia but don’t always have the answer to the question, “What do I do now?” Our Dementia Support Group of Panama City was formed to promote awareness and advocacy for people living with Dementia and to provide Care partners with information, answers, and support.

A few of our Care partners have been attending our monthly meetings since June 2019 but  we always welcome newcomers.  

Our 1st Thursday Caregiver Support Group is Thankful that we are able to meet in-person again.  

Now that we have the support of the Oakland Terrace Community Center we are meeting at 1900 W. 11th Street, Panama City, FL. location - well suited to social gathering and community involvement.

Meetings are free and open to the public.  We encourage Caregivers to attend, but also anyone who feels overwhelmed by the challenges of Caregiving or who wants to learn strategies to use and strategies to avoid.  

During our meetings, we get to know each other and we discuss challenges that Caregivers face every day.  We offer dementia care strategies that change resistance and refusals into acceptance and moments of joy.

About Us...

Our Caregiver Support Group meetings are supported by Dementia Family Pathways who host our meetings and are committed to the community with education, support and resources.  We frequently ask experts in the field of dementia to visit our Caregiver Support Group to provide dementia specific information.  Our guest speakers provide dementia-specific information about resources, research, activities, medications, and more.  Following our guest speaker presentations, there is plenty of time for caregivers to ask questions and share stories about their own experiences. People who attend have common interests, concerns, and challenges.

The goal for our meetings is for Caregivers to have a place to go where they can share common challenges and then find strategies that help during daily living.

We use Dementia Care strategies such as Senior GEMS® and Positive Physical Approach® to offer solutions for the challenges caregivers face every day. Caregivers help each other solve problems and show support for each other in the process.Caregivers meet the 1st Tuesday of every month - thankful that we are able to meet in-person again - free, open to the public, and refreshments are provided.

We frequently ask dementia care experts to join us so they can share information, support, and resources for Caregivers loving someone through the levels of dementia.   Following their presentation, we have plenty of time for Caregivers to ask questions and share stories about their own experiences. People who attend have common interests, concerns, and challenges.

We use Senior GEMS® and Positive Physical Approach® (created by Teepa Snow, Dementia Expert) to offer solutions for the challenges caregivers face every day. Caregivers help each other solve problems and show support for each other in the process.

Go to Dementia Family Pathways website for more information: https://dementiafamilypathways.com 

Join us this month for some Caregiving GEMS to see what a difference a support group can make in your life!

Free Senior GEMS® Dementia Care DVDs are available from Senior Helpers. 

If you are unable to attend but want a free DVD, call Senior Helpers 850.215.1793.

YouTube: ”Senior GEMS – A Guide for Families Living with Dementia.”