Here’s information about the 2024 Brain Support Network LBD, PSP/CBD, and MSA caregiver-only support group meetings for those living in Northern or Central California.
Since 2004 (20 years!), we have convened local support group meetings for caregivers of those with Lewy body dementia (LBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and atypical parkinsonism.
Brain Support Network hosts three separate caregiver-only meetings — LBD, MSA, and PSP/CBD caregivers — for the Northern and Central California community. (The PSP and CBD groups are usually together.) These three meetings occur simultaneously. Among the three groups, attendance is 20-30 total.
In 2024, we will continue to alternate between in-person meetings in San Mateo (even-numbered months) and virtual meetings (odd-numbered months), mostly on the second Sunday of each month, 5-6:30pm. Please be on-time.
- In-person meetings: held over dinner at a restaurant in San Mateo. (Separate checks.) We usually sit outdoors on a patio, unless it’s cold or rainy (in which case we meet inside).
- Virtual meetings: most participate with video, but it is perfectly fine to join by phone-only.
The 2024 caregiver-only support group meetings, held 5-6:30pm, are scheduled as follows:
January 14, virtual
February 25, in-person, San Mateo (FOURTH Sunday)
March 10, virtual
April 14, in-person, San Mateo
May 19, virtual (THIRD Sunday)
June 9, in-person, San Mateo
July 14, virtual
August 11, in-person, San Mateo
September 8, virtual
October 13, in-person, San Mateo
November 10, virtual
December 8, in-person, San Mateo
Please add these caregiver-only support group meeting dates on your 2024 calendars now and consider adding the Saturday noon RSVP deadline.
We welcome caregivers living in Northern or Central California. A “caregiver” is anyone providing support, assistance, care management, or hands-on care to a family member or friend. A “caregiver” can also be a person providing support to the “primary caregiver.” (Our group is NOT intended for professional caregivers.)
Contact us if you’d like to be added to the meeting reminder email list. An email requesting RSVPs will be sent out a week or so before each meeting. RSVPs are always due by noon on the Saturday (one day) before each meeting. We will share the virtual meeting link and the restaurant location in San Mateo.
Former caregivers — those whose loved ones have already passed away — regularly attend to lead the discussion. In most cases, these former caregivers donated their family member’s brain and the diagnosis of LBD, MSA, PSP, or CBD has been confirmed. (Brain Support Network can assist your family in making brain donation arrangements.)
Discussion leaders include:
- LBD: Dianne, Randi, John, and Bernie
- MSA: Candy, Eileen, and Barbara
- PSP: Cristina, DJ, Barbara and Robin
- CBD: Mindy and others
We encourage caregivers to arrange for care or companionship for their loved ones while caregivers attend these meetings. Request a “respite care grant” from your county’s agency on aging or from your local California caregiver resource center. The Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California also offers respite grants for those dealing with dementia.
Occasionally we have guests. Guests have included a family consultant from Family Caregiver Alliance, a board member of the Lewy Body Dementia Association, and a board member of CurePSP.
We look forward to seeing you at some meetings in 2024!
If your family member with a neurological diagnosis of MSA, PSP or CBD would like to meet virtually with others, let us know. We coordinate virtual meetings for these audiences.