Caregiver Support Services
If you help an aging parent, spouse or friend on a regular basis and are not paid for it, you are a caregiver. Our Caregiver services includes 4 support groups (virtual and in-person options) including a Memory Café, caregiver education & workshops, respite & caregiver consultations.
Caregiver Support Groups
Meet with other caregivers in a similar situation, learn from each other and develop a mutual support system.
These open support groups are free and all are welcome.
Respite is available for the Saturday group with advance registration
1st Wednesday
Support Group
6:00 - 7:30 pm
[Virtual
Facilitator: Joe Hunziker Joe has worked in adult day health and a senior services leadership for 34 years, until his recent retirement. Joe’s father began his cognitive impairment journey at age 54, when Joe was 11 years old, and this personal experience inspired his professional career working with aging adults and memory loss individuals and their families. Since Joe’s retirement, his volunteering continues his commitment to assist those impacted by Alzheimer's disease.
Facilitator: Cheryl Nickelson Cheryl Nickelson, LGSW provides individual and group client consultations, and serves as Engagement Coordinator for the Center. She has been facilitating support groups and supporting caregivers and seniors since 2019. Prior to her role at the Center, Cheryl provided direct care supportive services to children and families in a social work setting for over 10 years.
Second Saturday Support Groups
10:30 am - Noon
[In Person at Normandale Center]
Group 1: Room 212
Group 2: Room 205
Group 1 Facilitator: Felicity Britton Felicity has a BA in Communications and has professional experiences in communications, marketing and non-profit leadership. Felicity was the primary caregiver for her husband, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, until late 2018. Felicity is now facilitating the support group that provided her with resources and compassion on her own journey.
Group 2 Co-Facilitator: Caroline Dietz-Carlson Caroline has more than 50 years of extensive clinical experience ranging from nursing to clinical project management and is certified in Powerful Tools for Caregivers. She was the sole caregiver for her brother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Caroline was a client of the Center and participated in many of our caregiver support services. The year her brother lived in memory care during the pandemic had a tremendous impact on her perspectives and interests. She is passionate about community and supporting those on their unique caregiver journey.
Group 2 Co-Facilitator: Barb Overline Barb has worked on a child/adolescent day therapy program for the past 36 years doing individual, group and family therapy. Her interest in being a group facilitator stems from walking the early onset Alzheimer’s journey with her husband for 9 years until 2018 when he passed. She has walked this path with 3 of his 4 siblings who also have the early onset Alzheimer’s gene. Barb recognizes the beneficial role that a support group can play on the often-challenging caregiver journey and now wants to support others as a trained facilitator.
Memory Café
A Memory Café is a welcoming place for people with dementia or memory concerns and their caregivers to socialize and share experiences. This is a comfortable, unique social group that allows for connection, socialization, and an opportunity to build new support networks.
Our group meets monthly and is free to attend, but advance registration is required.
Want to learn more? Please reach out to Becky directly. Becky@NormandaleCenter.org
Facilitator: Becky Zinn-Caulfield, MSW, LICSW Becky has over 20 years’ experience in clinical social work, including case management, palliative care and hospice and is passionate about supporting older adults and their families. Becky has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. Becky is trained in Caregiver coaching and consultation, as well as certified as a Powerful Tools for Caregivers class leader. Contact Becky > 952-977-9363
Caregiver Education
Second Saturday
Program with Respite
A free, monthly program for caregivers with an education session and a support group meeting directly afterwards. Learn More >
Powerful Tools
for Caregivers
An evidence-based program offered several times a year that provides caregivers with self-care tools to help take care of themselves while caring for a loved one.
Resources for
Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health [REACH]
An evidence-based program that covers a variety of issues from care receiver behavior to caregiver burnout for those caring for an individual with Alzheimer's or related dementia's.