"Being a caregiver is a noble thing. If you destroy yourself in the process, it is a foolish thing. Do what you have to do, but use your head as well as your heart."

J.A. West, Charlotte Observer, 14 April 2006

Support groups offer caring, sharing, education & support for caregivers.  Check the list below for a support group in your area. If you are interested in starting a support group please contact our Caregiver Support Coordinator at 1-877-488-7390 or 421-7390 .

The following support groups are currently active.  Scroll further for details on each group.

Halifax Regional Municipality

Pictou County

Annapolis and Digby Counties

Kings County

Port Hood

Yarmouth

Sydney

Digby

Clare

Halifax Regional Municipality Support Group

Two support groups meet in the Caregiver Nova Scotia offices at 3433 Dutch Village Road, Halifax. These groups are not disease nor age specific. Caregivers are welcome to discuss concerns, frustrations and needs in an understanding and confidential setting. Often, a lack of knowledge leads to increased stress, so educational and informational sessions will be provided. 

• Group 1 meets the SECOND Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
• Group 2 meets the LAST Wednesday of the month from 1:30 pm- 3:00 pm
• Space is limited! Please call to reserve a spot. 1-877-488-7390 or locally at 421-7390

Sheet Harbour

The Caregiver Support Group meets at the Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital at 2 pm on the first Wednesday of each month.  Please call Lorrie Boutilier at 885-3602 or Delfina Prest at 885-3272 for more information.

Pictou County

Family Caregivers of Pictou County, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, hold a support group meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. The meeting is held at the High Crest Place Nursing Home in the board room from 7 pm to 9 pm with refreshments. Please call Mary Maclellan at 755-1123 or Nan Mackenzie at 755-3113 for more information.

Annapolis and Digby Counties

Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 2 pm at the Homestead Restaurant on Highway 1, Granville. Please contact Luue Sullivan at 532-7239 for more information.

Kings County Family Support Group

Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the morning. For more information please call Brenda Griffin at 678-4111 or Doris Davidson at 542-1503.

Port Hood

Please call Katherine Gillis at 787-3247 for times and meeting location.

 Sydney

Meetins are held on the first Thursday of the month from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

To register for a Sydney support group meeting please call 1-877-488-7390.

Tri-County Region
 

• Digby: Meet every first Wednesday of the month in the Community Room at the Digby Superstore from 1 to 3 pm. Facilitated by Derrick Babin and Amy Theriault (Social Worker)

• Clare Region: Meet the second Wednesday of the month at the health centre from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Facilitated by Derrick Babin and Rosanne D’Eon (Social Worker)

• Yarmouth: Meet the second Monday of the month at the VON office from 1 to 3 pm. Facilitated by Derrick Babin and Kent Blades (Social Worker)

Each meeting is facilitated in a way that caregivers are able to gain insight and education from one another as well as from health care (or community) professionals, as well as education on how to “care for the caregiver”.

To register for Tri County area groups, or for more information, please contact: 

Derrick Babin

Manager of Community Support

& Volunteer Services for VON Tri-County

55 Starrs Rd. Yarmouth, NS

B5A 2T2

Phone: (902)-742-4512

1-800-928-3414 (toll free)