Northern California Dementia Caregiver-Only Support Groups

Caregivers of those with dementia need to have their own support group meetings or gatherings because they need to vent, share, learn tips and resources, and receive support from others walking the same path.  There are many caregiver-only support groups in Northern California for those dealing with dementia.  Most of the attendees are coping with Alzheimer's Disease but you may find some groups where the attendees are coping with dementia in the context of Parkinson's disease.

With the pandemic, many support groups have moved to meet virtually while others have gone on hiatus until in-person meetings can occur once again. Some groups have expanded the number of virtual meetings to provide more support.  Most virtual meetings are using video.  Of course you’ll need to contact the group leader for information on joining the meeting.  Most likely, groups will restrict attendees to the local area.

Alameda County | Contra Costa | Marin County | San Francisco | San Mateo | Santa Clara | Solano County | Sonoma County |


Alameda County

Alameda 

Virtual meetings via phone or video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

Thursdays, 10-11:30am


Albany 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Tuesday, 6:15pm-7:45pm


Berkeley 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Wednesday, 7-9pm


Fremont 

Group contact: Heather Gray, Alzheimer's Association, heather.gray@alz.org, 800-272-3900

Currently on hiatus


Livermore 

Virtual meetings via phone or video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Wednesday, noon-1:30pm


Oakland

Group contact and facilitator: LoWanda Moore, MSW, Kaiser Permanente, 510-752-7682

Currently on hiatus


Oakland – Spouse/Partner Dementia Caregivers Support Group 

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Tuesday, 10:30am-noon


Oakland – African-American Dementia Caregivers Support Group

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Friday, 11:30am-1pm


Oakland – Non-Spouse Family Members Dementia Caregivers Support Group

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Thursday, 10:30am-noon


San Leandro

Virtual meetings via phone or video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Monday, 7-9pm


Union City 

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Monday, 6-7:30pm


Contra Costa County

Antioch

Group contact and facilitator: Heather Gray, Alzheimer's Association, heather.gray@alz.org,  800-272-3900

Currently on hiatus


Brentwood 

Virtual meetings via phone or video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Thursday, 7-8:30pm


Concord - En Español, Spanish-speaking Dementia Caregiver Support Group

La Clinica de la Raza, 200 Sierra Road, Concord CA 94518, 925-363-2000

Currently on hiatus


Lafayette

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Monday, 1-3pm


Lafayette

Group contact: Dori Sproul, Alzheimer's Association, dsproul@alz.org, 800-272-3900

Currently on hiatus


Martinez 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Tuesday, 2:30-4pm


Pleasant Hill 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Wednesday, 3-4:30pm


Richmond 

Virtual meetings via phone 

Group contact and facilitator: Deborah Janke, deborahpricejanke@att.net, 925-228-3999

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

Last Wednesday, 2-4pm


San Ramon

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Monday, 7-9pm


Walnut Creek

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Tuesday, 10:30am-12:30pm


Marin County

Marin - Perpetual Dementia Caregiver Support Group (this support group will continue meeting virtually, even after Covid)

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Thursday, 6-7:30pm


Novato 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Wednesday, 10am-noon


San Rafael

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact: Jen Tripathy, Senior Access of Marin, jennifert@jfcs.org, 415-491-2500 ext. 140

1st & 3rd Thursday, 11am-12:30pm


San Rafael - Wives Dementia Caregiver Support Group 

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Tuesday & 3rd Thursday, 10am-noon


San Rafael - Husbands Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Wednesday, 12:30-2pm


San Rafael - Adult Children Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Wednesday, 6-8pm


Sausalito 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Saturday, 10-11:30am


San Francisco County

San Francisco

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Saturday, 10:30am-noon


San Francisco 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Tuesday, 11am-12:30pm


San Francisco - Cantonese-speaking Dementia Caregiver Support Group


Virtual meetings via video

Group contact: Xiaorong Ou, 408-372-9926, xou@alz.org, tinyurl.com/2020onlinechineseseed

Group facilitator: Kelvin Yu

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Wednesday, 5-6:30pm


San Francisco - LGBTQ Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact: Ariel Mellinger, Director of Wellness Services for Openhours, Ariel@openhousse-sf.org, 415-503-4180

4th Wednesday, 6-7:30pm


San Mateo County

Burlingame

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Wednesday, 7-9pm


Half Moon Bay 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Wednesday, 12:30-2pm


Half Moon Bay - General Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via Zoom

Contact the group facilitator to obtain the Zoom invitation and be put on the group's reminder email list.

Group contact and facilitator: Lynne Siracusa, 650-726-5067

Last Wednesday, 12:30-1:30pm


Menlo Park 

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact: Yolanda Chavez or Dao Do,  650-322-0126

Group facilitator: Dao Do and group members

Every Thursday, 1-2:30pm


Redwood City 

Virtual meetings via phone

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Tuesday, 1-2:30pm


Redwood City

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Thursday, 6-7:30pm


San Carlos 

Virtual meetings via Zoom

Group contact: Carmen Santoni, San Mateo County Adult Day Services, csantoni@catholiccharitiessf.org, 650-592-9325

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Tuesday, 1-2:30pm


San Mateo 

Group contact: Heather Gray, Alzheimer's Association, heather.gray alz.org, 800-272-3900

Currently on hiatus


South San Francisco 

Virtual meetings via phone and Zoom

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st & 3rd Fridays, 10-11:30am


Santa Clara County

Cupertino 

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact and facilitator: Charlie Neimeyer, liveoakcharlie@hotmail.com, 408-973-0905

3rd Thursday, 3-4:30pm


Los Gatos 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Tuesday, 1:30-3pm


Los Gatos

Group contact: Cindy Weinberg, cindy@shirhadash.org

Currently on hiatus


Morgan Hill 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Monday, 12-1:30pm


Mountain View 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

1st Thursday, 4:30-6:30pm


Palo Alto - General Caregiver Support Group

Group contact: Paula Wolfson, LCSW, Avenidas Care Partners, 650-289-5438

Currently on hiatus


San Jose 

Virtual meetings via phone or video

Group contact and facilitator: Leeandra Dowell, LCSW Kaiser Permanente, 408-362-3691

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Monday, 5:30-7pm


San Jose

Virtual meetings via video

Groups run in 8-week sessions.  Call for meeting dates.  Advance registration is required.

Group contact: Ayumi Eddins, Japanese American Community Senior Center, akodama@yuaikai.org, 408-294-2505 x36

Group facilitator: Wesley Mukoyama, LCSW

Tuesdays, 10-11:30am


San Jose - Chinese-speaking Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Group contact and facilitator: Peining Chang, MSW, ASW, Alzheimer's Association, pchang alz.org, 800-272-3900

Currently on hiatus


San Jose - Japanese-speaking Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact and facilitator: Emi Nagai, Japanese American Community Senior Center, enagai@yuaikai.org, 408-294-2505 x36

Irregular monthly meetings, Wednesday, 10-11:30am


San Jose / Evergreen

Group contact: Milton Cadena, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, mcadena@catholiccharitiesscc.org, 408-325-5237

Group facilitator: Nancy Tamburello, Adult Day Care Program Supervisor, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, 408-270-4900

Currently on hiatus


Santa Clara 

Virtual meetings via phone 

Group contact:  Grace Lee, 408-520-6904

Group facilitator: Erica J. Erney, LCSW, Kaiser Permanente, 408-530-6906

2nd Tuesday, 7-8:30pm


Santa Clara

Virtual meetings via phone 

Group contact and facilitator: Erica J. Erney, LCSW, Kaiser Permanente, 408-530-6906

3rd Tuesday, 10:30am-noon


Santa Cruz

Virtual meetings via phone 

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Wednesday, 2-3:30pm


Santa Cruz 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

3rd Wednesday, 5:30-7pm


Scotts Valley

Virtual meetings via Zoom

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Saturday, 10:30am-noon


Sunnyvale 

Virtual meetings via phone and video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Tuesday, 11:30am-1pm


Sunnyvale - Mandarin-speaking Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact and facilitator: Xiaorong Ou, 408-372-9926, xou@alz.org, tinyurl.com/2020onlinechineseed

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Thursday, 6:30-8pm


Sunnyvale - Mandarin-speaking Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Group contact: Milton Cadena, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, mcadena@catholiccharitiesscc.org, 408-325-5237

Group facilitator: Ching-Ming Hsueh, Adult Day Care Program Supervisor, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, 408-282-1134

Currently on hiatus


Sunnyvale 

Group contact: Milton Cadena, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, mcadena@catholiccharitiesscc.org, 408-325-5237

Group facilitator: Ginger McClure, Adult Day Care Program Supervisor, gmcclure@catholiccharitiesscc.org, 408-530-8734

Currently on hiatus


Solano County

Fairfield 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

4th Thursday, 9-10:30am


Rio Vista

Currently on hiatus

Group contact: Heather Gray, Alzheimer's Association, heather.gray@alz.org, 800-272-3900

Currently on hiatus


Vacaville 

Virtual meetings via video

Register to join the group by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or at communityresourcefinder.org (click on "Programs and Events")

2nd Wednesday, 7-9pm


Sonoma County

Napa

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact:  Lauren Hibdon, MS, Alzheimer's Association, lhibdon@alz.org, 707-573-1210

3rd Wednesday, 5:30-7pm


Santa Rosa

Group contact:  Lauren Hibdon, MS, Alzheimer's Association, lhibdon@alz.org, 707-573-1210

Currently on hiatus


Santa Rosa - Adult Children Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact:  Lauren Hibdon, MS, Alzheimer's Association, lhibdon@alz.org, 707-573-1210

3rd Tuesday, 6-7:30pm


Santa Rosa 

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact:  Lauren Hibdon, MS, Alzheimer's Association, lhibdon@alz.org, 707-573-1210

1st & 3rd Thursday, 10-11:30am


Sonoma 

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact:  Lauren Hibdon, MS, Alzheimer's Association, lhibdon@alz.org, 707-573-1210

4th Tuesday, 12:30-2pm


St. Helena

Virtual meetings via video

Group contact:  Lauren Hibdon, MS, Alzheimer's Association, lhibdon@alz.org, 707-573-1210

1st & 3rd Thursday, 3-4:30pm