Rochester Regional — Free Dementia Caregiver Support Groups in Rochester, NY
Rochester Regional Health offers free Caregiver Support across the Rochester metro and Finger Lakes region of New York. Programs are coordinated through Unity Adult Day Services and partner with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide caregivers consistent peer support, education, and connection to community resources. Groups serve family caregivers of older adults with dementia, chronic illness, mobility decline, and other long-term care needs.
What to Expect
A flagship support group meets the 4th Monday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Unity Adult Day Services / St. Bernard’s Adult Day Care for People with Dementia, facilitated in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. Sessions are confidential and peer-driven. Members share what’s happening, listen to others, and trade practical strategies. Rochester Regional Health also runs caregiver coaching, education programs, and connection to its adult day services — so caregivers can attend a group while their loved one is in supervised dementia care nearby.
Who This Group Is For
The program serves family caregivers in the Rochester area and surrounding counties caring for someone with dementia or another serious long-term condition. Members include adult children caring for parents, spouses, partners, and friends in a primary caregiving role. New caregivers and longtime caregivers are equally welcome. Pairing the group with adult day services lets caregivers attend a meeting without arranging separate care for their loved one.
Why Peer Support Works
Caregiving in upstate New York often happens within long-established family networks — and yet most caregivers still describe the work as quietly isolating. The regular Monday group at Unity creates a recurring, named community where caregivers can talk about what’s happening that month, hear from others walking the same path, and learn from facilitators trained in dementia care. Over time, group members often build lasting relationships that extend beyond the meeting.
How to Join
The support group is free. For details on the next meeting, partner programs, or adult day services, call Rochester Regional Health at (585) 254-7990 or visit rochesterregional.org/services/seniors/caregiver-support. Staff can also connect caregivers to additional Alzheimer’s Association resources, including the 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900.