Caregiver-Only Support Groups
There are several PD caregiver-only support groups in the Bay Area and a few more in Northern California, one atypical parkinsonism caregiver-only support group in the Bay Area, and many general caregiver support groups (not PD-specific) in the Bay Area.
PARKINSON'S CAREGIVER-ONLY SUPPORT GROUPS - BAY AREA
Belmont (Organized by Stanford APDA I&RC) - PD Caregivers Support Group
1st Thursday, Noon - 2pm
Silverado Senior Living Belmont Hills, 1301 Ralston Avenue, Belmont 94002
Facilitated by Mary K. Stegner
Group contact: APDA Information & Referral Center -Steven Russell [swrussell],
Must RSVP before attending so meeting details can be confirmed, and directions for parking and finding the meeting room can be shared
Berkeley - PD Caregivers Support Group
4th Thursday, 3 - 4pm
North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue (at MLK, Jr. Way), Berkeley 94709
Group contact: Joyce Sakai [caregivers pdactive.org],
Please RSVP before attending as meeting details may occasionally change
Los Altos - PD Caregivers Support Group
Last Tuesday, 10:30am - Noon
Neutra House, 180 Hillview, Los Altos 94022
Group contact: Sue Buff [skb815 yahoo.com], 650-483-6409
Please RSVP before attending as meeting details may occasionally change
Menlo Park (Organized by Stanford APDA I&RC) - PD Caregivers Support Group
2nd Friday, Noon - 1:30pm
St Bede's Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park 94025
Facilitated by Marguerite Manteau-Rao, LCSW
Group contact: APDA Information & Referral Center - Robin Riddle [rriddle], 650-724-6090
Must RSVP before attending as meeting details may occasionally change and directions for parking and finding the meeting room will be shared
Menlo Park (Organized by Stanford APDA I&RC) - PD Caregivers Support Group
3rd Tuesday, Noon - 2pm
St Bede's Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park 94025
Facilitated by Betsy Conlan, LCSW
Group contact: APDA Information & Referral Center - Robin Riddle [rriddle], 650-724-6090
Must RSVP before attending as meeting details may occasionally change and directions for parking and finding the meeting room will be shared
Mill Valley (Organized by Marin County Parkinson's Support Group) - PD Caregivers Break-out Session
4th Tuesday, 2 - 3pm (2nd hour of PD support group meeting)
The Redwoods, 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley 94941
Facilitated by Joann Katz, MFT
General support group contact: Eric [ericjs sonic.net], 415-383-5145
Contact before attending to confirm meeting details
San Jose (The Villages) - PD Caregivers Support Group
1st Wednesday of each month, 11:15am - 12:15pm
The Villages Golf and Country Club, Cribari Center, Patio Room, 5000 Cribari Lane, San Jose 95135
Group contact: Alice Pratte, 408-223-8033
Must RSVP before attending each meeting as access pass is required to enter gated community
San Jose (Willow Glen) - PD Caregivers Support Group
4th Wednesday of each month, 1:30 - 3:30pm
St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Ave., San Jose 95125
Group contact: Charmaine Eng, 408-723-8116
PARKINSON'S CAREGIVER-ONLY SUPPORT GROUPS
- NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Auburn - PD Caregivers Lunch
2nd Tuesday, Noon
Sizzler's Restaurant, 13570 Lincoln Way, Auburn 95603
Group contact: Sally Horst [kandshorst suddenlink.net],530-878-2226
Santa Rosa (Organized by Sonoma County Parkinson's Support Group) - PD Caregivers Break-out Session
1st Saturday, 2-3pm (2nd hour of PD support group meeting) - Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov
2nd Saturday, 2-3pm (2nd hour of PD support group meeting) - Aug, Dec
(No meeting in Jan, July, or Sept)
Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa 95405
Caregiver group contact: Arlene Irizary [irizary juno.com], 707-887-7451
ATYPICAL PARKINSONISM CAREGIVER-ONLY SUPPORT GROUP- BAY AREA
San Mateo - Atypical Parkinsonism (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Degeneration, Lewy Body Dementia, Multiple System Atrophy):
Caregiver-only meetings about every 6 weeks (please call for schedule)
Sundays, 5 - 7pm
Mimi's Cafe, 2208 Bridgepointe Parkway, San Mateo 94404
Group contact: Robin Riddle [robin.riddle brainsupportnetwork.org], Brain Support Network,
Must RSVP before attending to be sure there are no schedule changes and that an accurate headcount is given to the restaurant
GENERAL CAREGIVER ONLY SUPPORT GROUPS (Not Parkinson’s-specific)
- BAY AREA
These general groups are open to family caregivers. Most focus on caregivers to the elderly. Some may be specifically for adult children or spouses. At any given time, there may be no one dealing with Parkinson’s Disease or atypical parkinsonism attending these meetings but the group make-up changes over time and you may not be looking for PD-specific information anyway. There is no cost, unless indicated. All have a “drop-ins welcome” policy, unless indicated.
Berkeley
4th Saturday of each month, 9:30 - 11:30am
First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, Church Lounge (W102), Westminster Hall, 2407 Dana St.,
Berkeley 94704
Group contact: Sarah Guerra-Orantes, 510-381-1728
Additional group contact: Katie Kelly, Caring Ministries, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley,
510-848-6252 ext. 241
Burlingame
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, 6:30 - 8pm
Senior Focus Center, Mid-Peninsula Medical Arts Building, 1720 El Camino Real, Suite 10, Burlingame 94010
Group contact: Mills-Peninsula Health Services Community Resources, 800-654-9966
Castro Valley
3rd Tuesday of each month, 7 - 9pm
Eden Medical Center, usually Hayward/San Leandro Room (ground floor), 20103 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley 94546
Group contact: Barbara Byrd Cullinane, MSW, LCSW, 510-733-2402
Meeting location within medical center varies so check meeting board as to the meeting location
Cupertino
2nd Tuesday of each month, 3 - 4:30pm
City of Cupertino Senior Center, 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino 95014
Group contact: Karen Goss, Case Manager, Cupertino Senior Center, 408-777-3150
Group facilitator: Vivian Silva, MSW, Cupertino Senior Center
Fremont
2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, 1 - 2:30pm
City Hall, Bldg B, Large Conference Room, 3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont 94538
Group contact: Nancy Rothschild, LMFT, Coordinator, Family Caregiver Support Program, Aging &
Family Services, City of Fremont, 510-574-2035
Half Moon Bay
Last Wednesday of each month, 12:30 - 2pm
Coastside Adult Day Health Center, 645 Correas St. (across from library), Half Moon Bay 94019
Group contact and facilitator: Sunshine Mugrabi, Social Services, Coastside Adult Day Health Center, 650-726-5067
Hayward
1st Saturday of each month, 10am - Noon
St. Rose Hospital, usually Conference Room A in the Pavilion, 27200 Calaroga Ave., Hayward 94545
Group contact and facilitator: Chaplain Sally Hussey, Pastoral Care, St. Rose Hospital,
Call before attending the first time if you’d like to receive mailed reminders
Lafayette
Two Mondays each month, 1:30 - 2:30pm
Lafayette Community Center, Elderberry Room, 500 St. Mary's Rd., Lafayette 94549
Group contact: Molly Cohen, Lafayette Senior Services, 925-284-5050
Group facilitator: Carol Shenson, certified geriatric care manager, ResCare HomeCare Lafayette
Call for meeting schedule. Community Center members – no charge; non-members – $1/meeting.
Los Gatos
2nd Tuesday of each month, 5 - 6:30pm
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley (JFSSV), 14855 Oka Rd., Suite 202, Los Gatos 95032
Group contact and facilitator: Avital Agam, social worker, JFSSV, 408-357-7450
Must RSVP before attending each meeting as meeting details may occasionally change. Fee is $10 per session (sliding scale available).
Mountain View
3rd Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9pm
El Camino Hospital, usually Meeting Room A (ground floor), 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View 94040
Group contact: Joy Tobin, El Camino Hospital Health Library, 650-988-8343
Group facilitator: Edna Wallace, MFT, Behavioral Health Services, El Camino Hospital,
Meeting location within hospital varies so inquire with hospital’s front desk as to the meeting room
Palo Alto - Adult Children of Aging Parents
2nd Wednesday of each month, 6:30 - 8pm
Avenidas, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto 94301
Group contact: Paula Wolfson, Social Work Services, Avenidas, 650-289-5438
Call prior to attending for the first time. Suggested donation of $10/meeting (not required).
Palo Alto - Spouse/Partner Caregivers
1st and 3rd Mondays of each month, 1:30 - 3pm (Note: 1st Monday group focuses on Alzheimer’s)
Avenidas, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto 94301
Group contact: Paula Wolfson, Social Work Services, Avenidas, 650-289-5438
Call prior to attending for the first time
Pleasant Hill - Most participants are caregivers to those with dementia
3rd Wednesday of each month, 6 - 7pm
The Chateau at Poet’s Corner, 540 Patterson Blvd., Pleasant Hill 94523
Group contact: Shirley McElhattan, The Chateau, 925-348-2392
Group facilitator: Vickie Bellingham, RN, geriatric care manager, ElderCare Services
Must RSVP prior to each meeting for facility access. Ring front doorbell on arrival for receptionist escort.
San Carlos - Caregivers of those with memory problems or dementia (Co-sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association)
1st Tuesday of each month, 1 - 2:30pm
Catholic Charities CYO - San Carlos Adult Day Services, in First Baptist Church, 787 Walnut St., San Carlos 94070
Group contact: Nancy Keegan, 650/592-9325
Group facilitator: Marguerite Manteau-Rao, LCSW
Call in advance to arrange for free respite care for care recipients during meetings
San Francisco
1st Tuesday of each month, 6 - 7:30pm
Eldercare Services, 605 A Chenery St., San Francisco 94131
Group contact: Eldercare Services, 415-469-8300
Call in advance to confirm date and time
San Jose/Evergreen - Family caregivers of older loved ones residing in Santa Clara County
2nd Monday of each month, 5 - 6:30pm
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 5111 San Felipe Rd., San Jose 95135
Group contact: Amy Andonian, Program Director of Caregiver Services, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, 408-325-5237
San Jose/Downtown - Mandarin-speaking Caregivers Group for family caregivers of older loved ones residing in Santa Clara County
Last Saturday of each month, 10:30am - noon
John XXIII Multi-Service Senior Center, 195 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 95112
Group contact: Amy Andonian, Program Director of Caregiver Services, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, 408-325-5237
Family caregivers of older loved ones residing in Santa Clara County are eligible to attend
San Jose/Downtown - Vietnamese-speaking Caregivers Group for family caregivers of older loved ones residing in Santa Clara County
3rd Friday of each month, 10:30am - noon
John XXIII Multi-Service Senior Center, 195 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 95112
Group contact: Amy Andonian, Program Director of Caregiver Services, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, 408-325-5237
San Mateo
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, 10:30am - noon
Mills Health Center, Palm Room, 100 S. San Mateo Drive, San Mateo 94402
Group contact: Mills-Peninsula Health Services Community Resources, 800-654-9966
San Rafael - Most participants are caregivers to those with memory loss
3rd Thursday, 11am - 12:30pm
Lucas Valley Community Church, 2000 Las Gallinas Ave., San Rafael 94903
Group contact and co-facilitator: Kerstin Bandner, Senior Access of Marin, 415-491-2500 ext. 13
Call in advance to arrange for free respite care for care recipients during meetings. Respite care can be provided with advance notice at Senior Access of Marin’s Wilfred George Adult Day Center.
Sunnyvale - Family caregivers of older loved ones residing in Santa Clara County
2nd Tuesday of each month, 5 - 6:30pm
First United Methodist Church, 535 Old San Francisco Rd., Sunnyvale 94086
Group contact: Amy Andonian, Program Director of Caregiver Services, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, 408-325-5237
Group facilitator: Ginger McClure, adult day care program supervisor, 408-530-8734
Note that most participants are caregivers to those with memory loss or dementia.
Walnut Creek
2nd Thursday of each month, 7 - 8:30pm
Eldercare Services, 1808 Tice Valley Blvd. (Tice Valley Plaza), Walnut Creek 94595
Group contact: Eldercare Services, 925-937-2018
Call in advance to confirm date and time
This list compiled by Robin Riddle of Stanford's APDA Information & Referral Center, March 2012. Last updated April 2013.
