Family Caregivers of BC hosts a number of caregiver support groups to support you, as a caregiver. If you are unfamiliar with support groups, this article on “The Value of Peer Support” offers an introduction.
The most important element of any support group is to create a safe and confidential space. In a support group, Shared Understandings (also known as ‘ground rules’ or ‘group guidelines’) create this safe and confidential space for caregivers in group meetings.
For some examples of Shared Understandings that we have found helpful over our 30+ years of facilitating caregiver groups read our Shared Understandings here.
Note: Please check our FCBC website calendar for the most up-to-date information on all of our caregiver support groups.
Virtual Caregiver Support Groups
Caregivers Connect: BC’s Virtual Caregiver Café
Our Caregivers Connect: BC’s Virtual Caregiver Café, brings people together from across British Columbia each month who share a mutual experience of caregiving for a family member or friend.
Date and Time: 2nd Thursday of each month from 2-3:30pm PT
Registration Details: You must pre-register each session to attend. Register in advance for this meeting here.
You will get a confirmation email and instructions to join this Zoom Virtual Group. Please note that when joining you can choose to share your first and last name or create an anonymous username.
Victoria Virtual Caregiver Group
Our monthly Victoria Virtual Caregiver Group brings caregivers from Greater Victoria, British Columbia area together around a mutual experience of caregiving for a family member or friend. This is a time for reassurance, where caregivers can realize they are not alone.
Date and Time: First Wednesday of each month, 1:30-3pm PT
Registration Details: You must pre-register each session to attend. Register in advance for this meeting here.
You will get a confirmation email and instructions to join this Zoom Virtual Group. Please note that when joining you can choose to share your first and last name or create an anonymous username.
Care Aware: BC’s Virtual Thematic Caregiver Support Group
Registrations closed this Fall/Winter. We will accept new participants in March 2023
This monthly, thematic peer support group includes scheduled topics for each session. This is a closed group of six support sessions.
Upcoming themes from September 2022 – February 2023 include:
Caregiver Well-Being: Maintaining the Balance · The Emotional Side of Caregiving · Isolation: Creating a Network of Support · When the Person You are Caring for Resists Help · Coping with and Managing Transitions.
Date and Time: Third Wednesday of each month, 1:30-3pm PT
Registration Details: Please note that registrations are now closed for our Fall/Winter session. We will accept new participants in March 2023 for our next Care Aware group session, beginning April 2023.
Working Caregivers Connect: BC’s Virtual Support Group
We invite working caregivers to attend our new monthly peer support group.
This support group will be held in the evening to accommodate the requests we have received from working caregivers.
Date and Time: 4th Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30 pm PT
Registration Details: You must pre-register to attend each session. Register in advance here!
You will get a password and instructions to join the Zoom Virtual Group. Please note that when joining you can choose to share your first and last name or create an anonymous username.
In-Person Caregiver Support Groups
Greater Victoria Support Group at Yakimovich Wellness Centre
This is an in-person Caregiver Support Group at the Yakimovich Wellness Centre, located within the Hillside Seniors Health Centre, at 1454 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia. (Next to Aberdeen Hospital.)
Free, two-hour parking is available on Gosworth and Belmont Streets.
The Centre is on bus route #4, and Handidart and taxis will drop off at the front door.
Date and Time: Every 2nd Monday of each month from 1:30 – 3:00 pm PT
Registration Details: Pre-registration is required and can be done here or by phone at our Caregiver Support Line: 1-877-520-3267.
Saanich Peninsula Caregiver Support Group at Shoal
This is an in-person Caregiver Support Group at the Shoal Centre, 10030 Resthaven Drive, Sidney, British Columbia.
Date and Time: Every 4th Wednesday of each month from 1:30 – 3:30 pm PT
Registration Details: Pre-registration is required and can be done here or by phone at our Caregiver Support Line: cgsupport@familycaregiversbc.ca or 1-877-520-3267.
Related Resources
- Caregivers Out Loud Podcast, Episode 1: Accessing Caregiver Support Networks