NEW!! “Lunch Bunch”

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The Greenville Office of the Alzheimer's Association, is pleased to announce the first of it's kind, persons with dementia; Peer-to-Peer Social/Support Group; led by a person living with dementia!

If after reading this announcement you may feel like you are not fit for the peer-to-peer group; please know that there are the other Connections Group activities that may be beneficial for you or your loved one. The Connections group meets twice per month and then at various other times throughout the month. It is a great group! Lots of fun!

The Early Stage Peer-to-Peer Lunch Bunch: The group will meet the 1st Monday of every month at 11:30am until 1pm at the Alzheimer's Association Office located at 123 West Antrim Drive, Greenville; starting May 6th. RSVP: Jamie Guay: 864-250-0029

Our lunch for the first meet up will be sponsored by Upstate Home Care!

This will be a "social engagement/support" group; it is ONLY for persons living with dementia. I am still working on some details; however, for the first meeting, I plan to keep things on the "light" side of the requirements/guidelines.

This first meeting will be more of an introduction; finding out what the group wants and/or needs. I will be present for a portion of the meeting; however, we are blessed to have Maria Turner, RN, BSN and International Dementia Advocate, as our PWD Peer-to-Peer facilitator. We will assess each person each month to see if they are still a fit for the group.

Some initial guidelines to see if you or your loved one is appropriate for the group:
1. must be interested in participating
2. must have a diagnosis of dementia
3. must have been told about the diagnosis
4. must be able to discuss feelings/experiences (this may take some time to open up; and for the first meeting, we will work with those that are in denial of the diagnosis; however, this group will be an open/honest/safe space where we will be discussing dementia issues)
5. must be able to communicate (answer questions, participate)
6. must be comfortable in social situations without a care-partner present (Care-partners will be able to stay on-site, just not in the meeting room or they can simply drop off and pick up)
7. must not have any other medical issues that would disrupt the group or put others at risk

This is intended ONLY for the person living with dementia; however, this is NOT intended to solely be a respite for the care-partner/giver. This is NOT simply another social outlet...this will be social; however, it is INTENDED for the person with dementia to be able to voice their thoughts, feelings, frustrations, etc....with others on this same journey.

Reach out to Jamie Guay at the Greenville Office for further information!