The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is offering a new support group specifically for young adult caregivers. Libby Pederson, who is currently a caregiver for her father, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 60, will help lead the group.

The support group is for dementia caregivers ages 18 to 40.

It will meet virtually by Zoom at 6:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month.

Support groups provide emotional support and a safe space for caregivers to express their feelings, share experiences and receive empathy from others who understand their situation.

Pederson approached the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter about starting a support group specifically for young adults after not being able to find one that fit her situation.

“I wanted to begin the Young Caregiver Support Group as a way for young adults caring for their parents to connect on a personal, relatable level,” she said in a written statement. “The current support groups that the Alzheimer’s Association host are fantastic, but many of the attendees are navigating the loss of or caring for their spouse, which is a very different relationship and experience than a child having to care for their parent.”

Pederson has been a volunteer community educator and spokeswoman for the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter for the past year, and she will be leading this new support group as the support group facilitator.

“The goal of this support group is for young adults to have a safe space to ask questions about and receive practical advice on topics from medical care to financial suggestions, build a community of young adults who share similar experiences and discuss coping strategies as we ourselves are trying to juggle a work, life and family balance all while taking care of or mourning the loss of a parent,” Pederson said.

“Lastly, I wanted to begin this program to not only navigate the hard days together, but celebrate the good and help each other find joy in the small moments that we have or had with our loved ones,” she added.

To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association and its free resources for caregivers, visit alz.org.iowa.

The next support group meeting will be on Oct. 16.

Today, there are nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 62,000 in Iowa. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends are serving as caregivers, including nearly 100,000 in Iowa.

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality control and support.