IPHA / CHaSCI — Free Dementia Caregiver Support Groups in Illinois
The Center for Health and Social Care Integration (CHaSCI) runs the Illinois Public Health Association’s IPHA Support Groups for Dementia Caregivers Initiative. The program offers free virtual support groups for family caregivers of people with dementia across Illinois — built specifically to reach caregivers who don’t have easy access to local in-person groups, including rural caregivers and those balancing caregiving with full-time work.
What to Expect
CHaSCI’s dementia caregiver support groups meet by video on a regular schedule. Sessions are facilitated by trained social workers and follow a confidential, peer-driven format. Members share what’s happening for them, listen to others, and trade strategies on the practical and emotional weight of dementia caregiving. The Initiative also produces educational webinars and online resources that complement the support groups, giving caregivers a steady stream of evidence-based information alongside peer connection. Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes.
Who This Group Is For
The Initiative serves Illinois family caregivers of someone with Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or related conditions. The virtual format makes it particularly accessible for caregivers in rural Illinois, downstate counties, and other regions where in-person support groups can be scarce. The program is also a strong fit for working caregivers who need to attend a group from a home office between work calls.
Why Peer Support Works
Dementia caregiving in rural and mid-size Illinois communities often happens in tight-knit households where the day-to-day work is invisible to neighbors and even close family. A virtual peer support group answers that invisibility by putting caregivers in steady contact with others walking the same path, regardless of geography. CHaSCI’s program is built around the recognition that the right group — at the right time, on the right platform — can make the difference between sustainable caregiving and burnout.
How to Join
The IPHA Support Groups for Dementia Caregivers Initiative is free. Visit chasci.org/dementiacaregivers for current group schedules, registration links, and educational resources. CHaSCI staff can also be reached through the contact form on the site to help caregivers find the right group and connect with additional Illinois caregiver services.