Caregiver Support Groups

Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

The UC Davis Caregiver Support Groups page provides a list of area support groups.

Please email worklife@ucdavis.edu and request to be put on the "familycaregiver" mailing list for a quarterly update on local resources and occasional notices of upcoming relevant events.

Re-occurring area groups:

Monday

Every Monday

  • Anticipatory Loss Support Group.  6:00 pm. Online event (Zoom). Please call 530-758-5566 to register for a support group. Patients and their loved ones anticipate certain losses when dealing with a serious life-limiting illness. 

Tuesday

Second Tuesday of each month:

Wednesday

Second Wednesday of the Month

  • Caregivers' Corner is a space for education and mutual support for people supporting a loved one with cancer offered by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Department of Supportive Oncology. It meets virtually on the 2nd Wednesday of the month 3:00-4:15 pm. To receive meeting reminders, updates, and the meeting link please register here.

Every other Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

 

Caregiver Webinars/Videos:

Family Caregiver Alliance Videos in English and Spanish

Family Caregiving How-To Video Series