Group Forums

Per Cleveland Clinic, addiction is a disease — it’s a chronic condition. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a chronic brain disorder. Brain chemistry changes with addiction. We invite caregivers and their families, as well as patient advocates to connect, share and support each other in this Group and to create Forums within the Group.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The physical demands of caring for someone with ALS are vast and wide ranging related to ADLs and more. This group is for all caregivers and advocates who love someone with ALS. Let's connect, share and support each other!

It's non-discriminatory, affecting all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Caring for children with autism is challenging and affects the life of the caregivers. This often includes depression, anxiety, and other mental or physical health problems. This group is essential for these caregivers to gain support from others that face the same challenges. Welcome!

Vrooom! There are carers ranging from auto historians to aficionados to casual appreciation. Share with the community which cars, trucks, or motorcycles you have or dream about. Most of us have at minimum seen a car and said to ourselves, "wow, I'd love to have that!" Your stories can range from the autos themselves to a memorable ride you had in your life.

What do you think of? Car crashes. Falls. Football players. Military veterans. Yes...and more! Did you know that brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of seizure disorders. This group is meant for caregivers and advocates of people affected by brain injury to Connect. Share. Support.

Reports in recent years in the U.S. and U.K. note that the percentage of caregiving dads has increased significantly. Estimates range from 20% to 35%, with those being defined as "stay at home" or "a regular source of care for children under 15." Whatever the definition and extent of their roles, this MCF group is here for them to connect, share and support each other!

Estimated 5.4 million in the U.S. Often hidden, they commonly miss school, cancel plans with friends, deal with "adult-like" stress/anxiety, and overall grow up way too early. This MCF group is meant to bring awareness to a growing issue for these kids and society overall!

These encompass a broad range of conditions that result from cognitive and/or physical impairments. They are identified before the age of 22, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime. These include intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, language and learning disorders, vision impairment, hearing loss, and more. For caregivers, this MCF group is here for you to connect, share and support one another.

When kidneys fail, dialysis acts as a replacement. More than 550,000 people in the US - and more than 2 million people worldwide - undergo dialysis. The challenges to health and lifestyle are staggering in many ways for the person on dialysis, not to mention how this affects the lives of caregivers and patient advocates.

Down Syndrome is estimated at 1 in 1,000 to 1,100 live births worldwide. That's about 3,000 - 5,000 children born with this chromosome disorder. This changes the lives of parents and families in many ways. This group is for anyone who cares for/about someone with Down Syndrome. We hope you will Connect, Share and Support each other!

An estimated 10 million Americans have ET. It is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. Yet, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, 8x as many people have ET as have Parkinson’s. Quality of life for people with ET is significantly impacted! This group is to support not only caregivers for people with ET, but also the people who suffer. Connect, share and support each other in this group and associated forums.

So often there are challenges among family members, especially when it comes to caring for parents. How does everyone navigate these situations? We've found it helpful to talk with other people in the same shoes to gain perspective. Connect through this group with questions and/or answers for others in your shoes. It can often be helpful!

Often a difficult topic. To make good decisions for those care for, a clear grasp of their financial situation is needed. How do you approach them? 1-on-1, a family meeting with siblings, or also include other important people? Share your experiences in this group and connect to support each other.

Over 400,000 youth in the U.S. foster care system. 20% will experience homelessness at some point in their adulthood. Less than 3% will graduate college. This group is for foster families to Connect. Share. Support. with the hope of helping improve their foster experience and these statistics!

Health literacy: an individual's ability to obtain, process, and understand information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Many people, including caregivers and patient advocates, can feel challenged by health situations they are in personally or related to those they care for. This group is a great place to Connect, Share. Support. one another!

This group is intended to cover the full range of providers from physicians to nurses to lab techs and more. Caregivers and advocates often have interaction with these individuals, who each play an integral role in the care continuum. In this group, you can share and support each other with a wide range of information on endless topics.

Since this topic appears to be consistently mentioned by caregivers in their top ways to get away from caregiving, there's no doubt it would be a group. We'd love to hear from MCF members where you enjoy hiking and what are some of your favorites...anywhere in the world.

The holistic approach to medicine prioritizes the well-being of a person. While traditional medicine assesses only their physical state, holistic medicine cares about much more: the psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects together. Whether you're interested or believe in this topic for you or a loved one, Connect, Share. Support. in this MCF group!

Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by pathogens that get into a body. The most common causes are viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. If you are caring for someone with an infectious disease, you can connect, share and support others in this group who are in a similar situation.

The typical LGBTQ caregiver spends about 28 hours/week assisting a family member with ADLs, IADLs, and medical/nursing tasks, placing them in more high intensity caregiving situations than non-LGBTQ peers. This group is meant to provide a place for LGBTQ+ caregivers to feel less isolated, through connecting, sharing and supporting each other!

The breadth / depth of this topic is huge! From LTC Insurance, to Elder Care Living Facilities, to Advanced Care Planning, and so much more, MCF invites caregivers, advocates, patients, and their families to connect, share, and support each other in this group and create forums on specific topics.

With so many diseases, procedures, drugs, etc. and research on all, we thought this group would be a great place for MCF members to share with each other. A new study for a specific disease. A product that's being tested. Whatever the research, let's share and support each other in this group!

This group is for caregivers dealing with their own mental health challenges or that of those they are caring for. You're not alone! Mental health is a serious issue, whether dealing with someone else's and/or your own. The trick is how to deal with each and mitigate the negative effects. Share your experiences and post questions to help and learn from other caregivers.

Mindfulness and meditation embody many similarities. Meditation is an intentional practice, where you use focus to increase calmness, concentration, awareness, and emotional balance. Mindfulness is the simple act of paying attention, noticing and being present in whatever you’re doing. Connect with other MCF members and share your experiences!

Caregivers are as diverse as the music we like. Connect with each other to share your likes or learn about new artists...and escape your responsibilities with a new friend virtually or on your own, if even for just a moment.