Finding strength in community: how caregivers benefit from social connections

It’s hard to fathom the emotional pain, fear, and anxiety that accompanies a difficult diagnosis. Yet many of us find ourselves navigating these psychologically treacherous waters–without the benefit of an emotional life raft. We’re sounding the alarm on caregiver loneliness & isolation at a time when typical caregiver support groups are simply not enough.

Take Jane, for example, whose son was diagnosed as neurodivergent, leaving Jane feeling isolated and lonely. Jane remembers spending time with her friends with neurotypical children and assuming they could in no way relate to her experience as a mom.

Or Jubin, whose parents lived on a completely different continent when his dad was diagnosed with diabetes. Jubin worked to navigate medical treatment in a different country while simultaneously caring for his own growing family.

Or Natalie, who was just at the point of reaching her long-sought-after career goals when her dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness, leaving her struggling to find a life-work balance.

Each of these caregivers faced challenges related to the health of their loved ones and found the strength to manage through community. Caring for a loved one (or yourself) during a medical crisis presents significant emotional and logistical challenges. What’s more, caregiver loneliness and isolation is a common issue, and when not addressed, these feelings often create significant impacts.

At Grayce, we understand that social connectedness is a significant driver of positive outcomes when mitigating the emotional and psychological effects of a difficult diagnosis. That’s why we created Gather, a social community designed to foster meaningful connections among caregivers, helping them prioritize their own well-being while continuing to care for their loved ones.

We’re excited to share more about Gather and its vital role in the lives of our valued members.

The power of social connection in overcoming caregivers loneliness & isolation

When we interviewed Jane, one of the first things she told us was that she felt lonely and isolated after her son’s diagnosis. She felt like no one else could understand what it was like to parent a neurodivergent child.

Jane became a Grayce member, and in addition to regular meetings with her Grayce Care partner, she also got involved in the Gather communities and now leads the Parents and Guardians of Neurodivergent Children caregiver support group each month.

Jane claimed that this was helpful for her as she managed her son’s diagnosis. Jane’s experience isn’t an anomaly. The American Heart Association says social connection is a key antidote to stress. A recent report concluded that social isolation and loneliness are linked to a 30% increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Because of this, the CDC has even said that people with strong social connections are more likely to live longer, healthier lives. 

Engaging in supportive communities can mitigate the health risks associated with stress by providing emotional support and reducing feelings of isolation. Grayce hopes that “Gather” will provide a resource for members to build one-on-one peer connections, reducing stress and increasing confidence in navigating care.

To ensure that each member makes the social connections that are most impactful to them, Grayce has recently added a Peer Match program to Gather. This program offers one-on-one connections with others in similar situations. For example, if a member’s mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, Peer Match will find another member facing a similar diagnosis. This type of caregiver support group provides a safe space for shared understanding and emotional relief.

The power of storytelling in caregiver well-being

You may wonder why simply being part of a community significantly impacts stress levels and overall health. Many factors are involved in this, but a big one is that hearing about other people’s experiences normalizes the challenges associated with a medical diagnosis or caregiving.

Psychology Today says that being part of a shared peer community, fosters emotional connection, which reduces stress and enhances coping mechanisms and resilience. Hearing others’ experiences normalizes caregiving challenges and reminds members they are not alone.

Gather’s caregiver support groups are facilitated through storytelling and experience-sharing. Members can offer comfort to others who are struggling and gain insight from others who have walked the same path.

Support for Diverse Caregiving Journeys

Every single one of us has a unique story—and just like Jane’s story is different from Jubins’, your story has its nuance. That said, humans have many shared experiences, experiences that shape us into the people we are and allow us to approach problems from our unique perspectives.

To account for the individuality of our members, as well as to foster meaningful conversations between members on similar journeys, Grayce offers peer discussion groups to support different caregiving experiences, including:

• Parenting in the Sandwich Generation : This group is for parents caring for their young children while balancing caregiving responsibilities for older loved ones.
• Cancer: This group provides peer support and guidance on managing cancer treatment and the emotional challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis.
• Neurodivergence: This group provides support and resources for people who are caring for a loved one with autism, ADHD, or other neurological conditions or who have a personal neurodivergent diagnosis.
• Dementia: In this group, members share coping strategies for managing the behavioral challenges and long-term care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.

In addition to peer support groups, Grayce also offers monthly expert-led workshops to provide professional guidance  within the supportive peer environment of Gather. The topics of these workshops range from the emotional toll of caregiving and caregiver burnout to advanced care planning, navigating health systems, and coping strategies for grief and loss. They are tailored to members’ unique requests and needs on Gather.

Caregiver support community, upgraded

As we worked to support our members, we also sought ways to make Grayce’s “Gather” community stand out. We wanted Gather to be an upgrade to the typical online caregiver support groups that many people are part of.

One way we did this was to create an “Ask an Expert” group  where people could ask care-related questions and get real answers from professionals and peers. In this dedicated space, members can ask care-related questions and get responses from people in similar situations and industry professionals specially trained to help people navigate difficult caregiving situations.

In this group, members have asked questions about various topics, including managing behavioral changes in dementia, navigating complex medical systems, and self-care strategies to help prevent burnout.

By receiving evidence-based guidance alongside peer experiences, caregivers gain practical solutions and a sense of empowerment.

Another way we are “upgrading” Gather is by providing exclusive Employer-Sponsored Private Groups. Many employers recognize the need for caregiving support but struggle to find resources for their employees. They also want their employees to discreetly access dedicated support and curated resources without stigma, which over time, can lead to caregiver loneliness & isolation.

We created private caregiver support groups to address this. These groups are helping employers increase engagement with employer-sponsored benefits while maximizing the company’s investment in mental health and caregiving resources.

The value of an integrated support network

The data shows that caregivers highly value meaningful connections and peer support. People need other people, and the value of connections with those who have navigated a similar path is hard to quantify.

Unlike social media groups or generic forums, Gather has been curated to provide an even higher value through expert-supported content and intentional peer matching.

No matter where you are in your caregiving journey–whether you’re newly navigating a diagnosis or years into providing care–there’s always a safe space to find support and connection within the Grayce caregiver community: Gather.