Mental Wellness for Caregivers
Caregiving can be a heavy mental and emotional load. Though things might seem overwhelming at times, professionals can help you manage stress and worries. Check out these mental health resources in Massachusetts for caregivers.
1. Caregiver Support Groups
De-stressing can be as simple as speaking to a sympathetic ear. A caregiver support group provides a safe space to talk about your experiences and emotions and connect with fellow caregivers who understand your worries. Joining one can provide a welcome mental break from caregiving while offering validation, support, and new friendships.
Boston Senior Home Care offers three virtual support groups each week, including one evening group:
- Mondays (9-10 AM)
- Tuesdays (7-8 PM)
- Thursdays (12-1 PM, every other week)
We also offer separate support groups for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren:
- Tuesdays (6:30 – 8 PM, every other week)
- Fridays (10 AM – 12 PM, 1st and 3rd Fridays)
Our trained facilitators and advisors are here to talk to you and help you work through your troubles. Contact [email protected] to learn more and sign up for a support group.
Need other types of support for you or your loved one? Call 617-292-6211 to speak directly to an aging information and referral specialist.
2. Age Strong Memory Cafes
Relaxing with other caregivers in a safe place with your loved one can help you take a break and re-center yourself. Memory Cafes are welcoming spaces for people with forgetfulness, Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or other changes in their thinking, as well as their loved ones and care partners.
Joining a Memory Cafe could be the perfect opportunity to connect with other families affected by memory loss, participate in meaningful programming, and take a moment to relax. They can also teach you about new programs and resources that other dementia caregivers are using.
The Boston Age Strong Commission holds Memory Cafes at Boston Public Library branches throughout the city:
- Codman Square, second Wednesdays of each month, 10 AM – 12 PM
- Jamaica Plain, last Monday of each month, 10:30 AM – 12 PM
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
- West Roxbury, second Friday of each month, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
Age Strong is holding additional rotating Memory Cafes once per month in Roxbury, East Boston, the North End, and South Boston through the Boston Public Library. Coming up are:
- Friday, February 20, 11:30 AM – 1 PM, at the East Boston Branch
- Friday, March 6, 11:30 AM – 1 PM, at the North End Branch
For more information or to RSVP for any Memory Cafe, contact Corinne White from Age Strong by phone at 617-635-3745 or by email at [email protected].
3. Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline
For caregivers looking for professional mental or behavioral health, it can be difficult knowing where to start. Thankfully, the MA Behavioral Health Helpline is there to walk you through the basics of finding counseling and treatment services by trusted providers. Services are free and confidential, and staff will remain on the line until callers are connected to the next step of the help process.
Helpline professionals can provide real-time clinical assessments and connect you to local treatment and support. If you or a loved one experience the following, the Behavioral Health Helpline recommends getting in touch:
- Having trouble sleeping, or sleeping all the time
- Feeling anxious, or more worried than usual
- Feeling trapped or hopeless
- Alcohol or drug use
- Reckless behavior or unsafe activities
- Feeling very angry or revengeful
Callers aren’t required to have health insurance, and interpretation is provided in over 200+ languages.
The helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Contact them by calling or texting 833-773-2445 or visiting their website to chat with a live agent.
4. William James INTERFACE
Caregivers seeking long-term mental health support might prefer to connect with a local professional. But for caregivers in the suburbs or more remote areas of Massachusetts, how can you find a trustworthy local mental health provider?
The William James College INTERFACE Helpline works to close that gap. Helpline operators work one-on-one to match callers with local mental health professionals and follow up to ensure that callers get the support they need.
The INTERFACE Helpline’s phone numbers are:
- 888-244-6843 (toll free)
- 617-332-3666 (local)
Operators are available from 9 AM – 5 PM (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and 8 AM – 6 PM (Tuesday and Thursday).
Because of their selectiveness for healthcare professionals, INTERFACE only serves a limited number of communities. The map below shows the communities they serve, or you can visit their website to see the full list of resources available in each community.
