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!

This often is a topic more confusing than medical terminology. Understanding how insurance works overall, what policies cover, accessing people with answers, and much more can be incredibly challenging. Caregivers and especially patient advocates often have great insight. Connect with each other in this group to share experiences and learn.

Per the Mayo Clinic, heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart, including: blood vessel disease, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, disease of the heart muscle, and heart infection. It can be confusing! For caregivers & advocates, it can be helpful to connect, share and support each other!

This is a group that can include SO many topics...from quilting to sailing to photography and much more. Create a Forum about your favorite hobby or join in the discussion other MCF members have created!

Over a half million people are homeless in the U.S.! Care for the homeless often focuses on knowledge of the healthcare system, opportunities to access care, and education on the prevention of acute and chronic conditions. For the incredible caregivers to the homeless -- nurses, social workers, volunteers, doctors, etc. -- connect, share and support each other!

The title of this group can refer to so much! We invite MCF members to connect, share and support each other about any legal topic related to caregiving and patient advocacy.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome involves a variety of new, returning or ongoing symptoms that people experience more than four weeks after getting COVID-19. In some people, it lasts months or years or causes disability. For caregivers and patient advocates trying to understand this ever-evolving challenge, we invite you to connect, share and support each other!

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex multi-system disease with many symptoms that may change over time and differ from patient to patient. It often is debilitating and life limiting and the cause is currently unknown. If you're a caregiver/advocate or patient with ME/CFS, we hope you use this group and create forum topics to help other!

Caregivers are often anguished to learn a loved one (or someone in their care) has missed a dose, hasn't renewed a prescription, taken a wrong pill, or stopped without consulting their physician. There are many stories from which caregivers and patient advocates can learn. Tap into each other in this group with questions and answers, whether one time or ongoing.

The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system and there are 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. While there are commonalities between Vet and non-Vet health issues, we can all recognize there are unique and complex health challenges for men and women that served in the armed forces. For caregivers and advocates who care for them, this is an additional MCF group to connect, share and support.

We all have our favorites! Share yours in this group, why you like them and connect with other caregivers about the wonderful world of movies!

Amidst the many challenges of caregiving, oral care is something that's often not paid enough attention to and dental care put off for a later date. It's understandable with juggling so much, but it's so important! We invite you to share tips and stories with other MCF members in this group.