Support Groups

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Support Groups (Ontario, Canada)

AIDS

ACSN: AIDS Caregivers Support Network

Alzheimer/Dementia
(For more information call Alzheimer Society for Metro Toronto; new support groups are emerging constantly: 416.322.6560 fax: 416.322.6656)

  • Early Alzheimer Support Group, for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's: Senior Care (North York): Jackie Fabian 416.635.2860 ext. 460 or Elizabeth Lewis ext. 464

  • Continuing Caregiver Support Group: second Tuesday evening of the month at SPRINT: call Juliette Wood at 416. 481.6411

  • Caregiver Support Group: for SPRINT clients who are caregivers of those with Alzheimer's and related dementias: last Mon. afternoon of the month. Call Juliette or Liane at 416.486.8666.

  • Family Support Group (Sunnybrook Medical Centre) Pat Melville: 416.480.4215

  • Baycrest Caregivers Program: for caregivers of those with dementia. Bev Adler: 416.785.2500 ext. 2308

  • Taylor Place Caregivers Support Group: for caregivers of those who are cognitively impaired Sophie Kahari: 416.447.7244 ext. 41

  • Alzheimer Family Support group (Downsview) Belinda Harris 416.431.0672

  • Alzheimer Family Support Group: Kelly Longo-Gill 416.398.5510

  • Day Centres and Visiting Services for Seniors of Etobicoke: supplies friendly visits and increases support for cognitively impaired people and their caregivers through counselling. Jill Horwood or Lorna Gladnet: 416.243.0127

  • Alzheimer Support group for Chinese Canadian caregivers- Scarborough. Starts Nov. 28 from 10-12 noon or 7-9 pm at Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care 2311 McNicoll Ave.. For information/registration call 416.321.6333 ext. 230.

  • Scarborough: Bendale Acres Sylvia Hensel 416.397.7043

  • Etobicoke: Kipling Acres Greg O'Grady 416.392.2323

  • Toronto West: St. Christopher House Maria Matias 416.532.4828

Alzheimer Society of York Region
For further information on any of these groups below call 905.895.2381/773.6404 ext.292 731.6611

  • Georgina: 2nd Tuesday. York Support Services 152 High Street Sutton

  • Newmarket: 1st Thursday. Greenacres 194 Eagle Street

  • Thornhill: 3rd Tuesday. Thornhill Com. Centre 7755 Bayview Ave.

  • Richmond Hill: 2nd Tuesday. St. Mary Immaculate 10295 Yonge Street

  • Markham: 1st Monday. Heritage Centre 17 Anna Russell Way Unionville

Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce

  • Alzheimer Family Support Group (Grey Bruce Area) Deborah Barker: 1.800.265.9013

  • Owen Sound: 1st Thursday of each mon. John Josehp Place. Mabel Woodhouse/Mary Gingrich 519.376.7230

  • South-Port: 1st Wednesday of each month. Chantry Centre. Melanie Myers 519.797.3107

  • Hanover: 1st Wednesday of each month. Grace United Church. Jane Radke 519.364.2340

  • Walkeron: 1st Wednesday of each month. Day Hospital. Eileen Kirvan. 519.881.1220 ext. 291

  • Kincardine: 1st Wednesday of each month. princess Court. Susan Goets 519.396.9570

  • Chesley: 2nd Thursday of each month. Elgin Abbey Nursing Home. Lisa Qullyt 519.363.3195

Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay
Call Family Support Co-ordinator 807.345.9556

  • Caregiver Coffee & Conversation: Every 2nd Tuesday. 611 Squier Street

  • Early Stage Support Group. Every Monday for 6 weeks. 611 Squier Street

  • Caregivers Diners Club. Last Tuesday of each month. Must RSVP

  • Men's Support Club.Every Other Thursday Evening. 611 Squier Street

Alzheimer Society of Kitchener-Waterloo

  • Alzheimer Coffee Break. Call 519.742.1422

Alzheimer Society of London, Ontario

  • Alzheimer Community Support Service 519.439.9336. All caregivers:weekly: Monday 7-8:30pm; monthly: first Wednesday 7-8:30pm. Spouses only: weekly: 10 sessions (daytime); bi-weekly 10-15 sessions (daytime).

Arthritis
Arthritis Support & Advocacy Network Jennifer Porter 416.281.8709 or Cathy Coombes 416.488.9540

Cancer
For a local support group call The Canadian Cancer Society. Ask for either the Living with Cancer Program, Cansurmount or Friendly Visiting program. One of those ought to land you some support. For information on cancer you can call the Cancer Information Service at 1.888.939.3333.

  • A New Support Group for Cancer Patients. A six week program beginning in September on six consecutive Wednesday nights; 7:00-8:30 pm at Toronto -Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre. Topics will include: treatment therapies (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery), coping and support systems, relaxation/meditation. Call 416.480.6898 to register.

  • Bayview Support Network (cancer patients helping cancer patients) Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre. Meets every second/fourth Monday at 7:00 pm. Call 416.480.6898

  • Cancer Support Group Sally: 905.642.2329 or Merna: 905. 640.2306

  • A Drop-in Breast Cancer Group. Beginning September ,Thursday mornings 10:30 am-noon. Room TG 265, ground floor Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre. For more information call 416. 480. 6898.

  • Senior Care Marilyn Grunier 416.635.2860 ext. 466

  • Baycrest Caregivers program Beverley Adler 416.785.2500 ext. 2308

Prostate Cancer

  • Man to Man ..a prostate cancer support group. Meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from 7 - 9 pm at 20 Holly Street, Suite 101, Toronto. Call the information hot-line at 416.932.8820.

Continence

  • The Continence Support Program. A four week educational/information series. Call 416.486.8666.

  • Simon Foundation for Continence: helping caregivers and their loved ones to deal with incontinence. Call 416.932.0262

  • Learn more about bladder control on the Telephone Support Line:Wednesday/Thursday 1-4 pm. (free and confidential). Call 416.932.0262

Osteoporosis

  • Scarborough Village Recreation Centre: every 4th Monday 10 am-noon. Pre-registration required; call 416.396.4051

  • Osteoporosis Support group 416.225.2112

Parkinsons

  • For information on support groups call 800.565.3000

Stroke

  • Beaches Stroke Recovery Group. Meets Wednesday afternoons from 1-3:00 pm at Hope Centre 2526 Danforth Ave. Call Tim Wilkins 416.690.4052 or 416.691.7407.

  • Stroke Recovery Group Jewish Community Centre 416.636.1880 ext. 282

  • National Stroke Association (USA):
    Regional support groups in Canada (under construction)

General Support Groups

  • As Parents Grow Older Lynne Gallagher:416.922.3126

  • At Home-Chez Nous Carmelle Harrison: 905.737.1130

  • Caring for Aging Relatives 416.396.4228

  • Central Park Lodge 416.961.6446

  • Taking Care of Your Aging Parents (seniors) Pat Lieberman 416.638.7800 ext. 215

  • Senior Support Services - Seniors and Caregivers. Meets the second Tuesday of every month 6-8 pm. Pat Fleming/Lynne Gallagher: 416.922.3126

  • Sharing the Caring Linda Kreaden Harold and Grace Baker Centre 416.654.2889

  • CHATS (Community Home Assistance to Seniors) Joanne Camerson: 905.294.4240

  • Community Care East York Nancy Bell/Theresa Wright: 416.422.2026

  • Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care facilities 416.489.0146

  • Family Support Group (Queensway General Hospital) Olga Delgado: 416.259.6671 ext. 5106

  • Etobicoke Caregivers Support Group Alberta: 416.239.0583 or Joyce: 416.621.6381

  • Scarborough Caregivers Support Group Wayne Sigen: 416.267.5774

  • Woodgreen Community Centre of Toronto - 416.469.5211
    Provides:
    1. Family Caregiver Support Group; group size 6-25. Languages: English and Chinese (two separate groups)
    2. Family Caregiver Network (East Toronto): culturally integrated large group activities for sharing, learning and mutual support.
    3. Counselling: individual or family counselling in the areas of service planning, decision making, adjustment, grief/bereavement, stress, family relation problems, various abuses etc.

  • For men: The Responsibility Group...12 sessions for men to enable them to talk about issues in their lives. Call 416.603.2177 (fee based)

Hamilton, Ontario

  • CONTINUING TO CARE. Monthly Support & Information meetings for family members helping older relatives living at home or in a care facility.**No charge or registration is required but please call to confirm time, date & location. All groups are co-facilitated by an experiencedfamily caregiver and a Public Health Nurse.

  • Locations now running in the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth include:
    • WATERDOWN 3rd Monday each month 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
    • St. James United Church Parlour, 306 Parkside Dr. Call: 628-2735
    • WEST HAMILTON MOUNTAIN 2nd Wednesday each month 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
      Holy Spirit Centre, 88 Fennell Ave. West
      Call: 546-3588
    • GLANBROOK 3rd Tuesday each month 7:00-8:30 p.m.Binbrook United Church, 2623 Binbrook Rd. Call: 546-3657
    • CARLISLE 3rd Wednesday each month 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
      Eaton Place Lounge, 298 Carlisle Rd. Call: 628-2735

Support Groups - British Columbia

Caregivers Association of British Columbia
For information on caregiver organizations, programs, services, research contact Patsy Schell, Executive Director, #130 - 216 Hastings Ave. Penticton, B.C. V2A 2V6. Phone/fax: 604.490.4812.

  • Victoria Caregivers Support Groups
    #300- 857 Rupert Terrace, Victoria, B.C. Phone: 250.384.0408.

  • Senior Peer Counselling of B.C.
    981 Seapearl Place, Victoria, B.C. V8Y 2X4
    Phone/fax: 250.658.2895

Support Individuals
At "People in Motion" in Toronto, I met a most remarkable man. A few years ago, he suffered multiple strokes and heart attacks over a period of three weeks but was determined not to give up. Today he leads an active life...albeit mostly from a wheelchair...lives with half a dozen show dogs who are his hobby and would be delighted to talk to anyone who has suffered the same afflictions as he has. You can reach Ken Sykes at 416.265.7520.

Online Support

  1. Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri runs a very active Alzheimer's mailing list. You'll receive 10-40+ messages a day from the list; to receive a message every one or two days with a summary of all the postings, subscribe to the Alzheimer's Digest.
    To subscribe to the Alzheimer list send the following message to majordomo@wubios.wustl.edu:
    subscribe alzheimer [Note: put this in the body of the message; leave the subject line blank]
    To subscribe to the Alzheimer list Digest send the following message to
    majordomo@wubios.wustl.edu: subscribe alzheimer-digest
    You can also subscribe directly, which you may find easier, from The Alzheimer Page at:
    http://www.biostat.wustl.edu/ALZHEIMER/
  2. A powerful on-line support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimers was highlighted in an article in Wired Magazine, May 1996 issue. Accessed through the Cleveland Freenet, this support forum is an internal newsgroup for caregivers at the Alzheimer's Disease Support Center. "The participants of this extremely close and warm newsgroup regard themselves as a family, heartily welcoming new-comers as well....Most of the traffic is conversation about day-to-day caregiving experiences and messages of encouragement."A question-and-answer board, staffed by professionals, answers Alzheimer's-related questions. Included are an FAQ, upcoming events, bibliography and a list of videos and brochures.

    To check this forum out, use telnet:
    telnet freenet-in-a.cwru.edu -or-
    telnet freenet-in-b.cwru.edu -or-
    telnet freenet-in-c.cwru.edu
    login: visitor
    menu selections:
    The Medical Arts Building
    Alzheimer's Disease Support Center
    or type: go alz

  3. Internet Support Group: The Parkinsn Information Exchange Network (The Parkinsn List). *note* the (mis)spelling of Parkinsn..it must be spelled exactly this way for the listserver to recognize it.

    A group of about 1400 members now in 36 countries people who have an interest in Parkinsons...patients, caregivers, health-care professionals; send email message to: listserv@listserv.utoronto.ca; in the body of the message type only FOUR WORDS: subscribe parkinson James Parkinson (replacing "James Parkinson" with your own name.) You will hear back that you are now subscribed.

    They also have a list of Current Topics and studies that have been posted to the parkinsn archives. To receive that list, send mail to:
    jcott@ionet.net
    On the Subject Line put:
    Send Current Topics Information

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