In 2025, Brain Support Network’s LBD, PSP/CBD, and MSA caregiver-only support group meetings will take place on the second Sunday of each month, with the exception of May, 5-6:30pm. The meetings are open only to those living in Northern or Central California. We will continue to alternate between in-person gatherings (even-numbered months) and virtual gatherings (odd-numbered months).Since 2004 (21 years!), we have convened these local meetings for caregivers coping with Lewy body dementia (LBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and atypical parkinsonism.
Brain Support Network hosts three separate caregiver-only meetings — LBD, MSA, and PSP/CBD caregivers — for the Northern and Central California community. (The PSP and CBD groups join together.) The three meetings occur simultaneously, with attendance between 4 and 20 at each gathering.
In 2025, we will gather, usually on the second Sunday of each month, 5-6:30pm:
- In-person meetings: even-numbered months. We gather over dinner at a restaurant in the San Mateo/Burlingame area. (We haven’t found a location since late 2024 where we can have separate checks.)
- Virtual meetings: odd-numbered months. Most participate with video, though it is fine to join by phone-only.
The 2025 caregiver-only support group schedule is as follows: (5-6:30pm meeting time)
January 12, virtual
February 9, in-person, San Mateo/Burlingame
March 9, virtual
April 13, in-person, San Mateo/Burlingame
May 18, virtual (THIRD Sunday)
June 8, in-person, San Mateo/Burlingame
July 13, virtual
August 10, in-person, San Mateo/Burlingame
September 14, virtual
October 12, in-person, San Mateo/Burlingame
November 9, virtual
December 14, in-person, San Mateo/Burlingame (often a holiday party hosted at a support group member’s home)
Please add these caregiver-only support group meeting dates and the Saturday noon RSVP deadline to your calendars.
We welcome caregivers living in Northern or Central California. A “caregiver” is anyone providing support, assistance, care management, or hands-on care to a family member or friend. A “caregiver” can also be a person providing support to the “primary caregiver.” (Our group is NOT intended for professional caregivers.)
Contact us if you’d like to be added to the meeting reminder email list. An email requesting RSVPs will be sent out a week or so before each meeting. RSVPs are always due by noon on the Saturday (one day) before each meeting. We will share the virtual meeting link or the restaurant location in San Mateo/Burlingame.
Former caregivers — those whose loved ones have already passed away — regularly attend to lead the discussion. In most cases, these former caregivers donated their family member’s brain and the diagnosis of LBD, MSA, PSP, or CBD has been confirmed. (Brain Support Network can assist your family in making brain donation arrangements.)
Discussion leaders include:
- LBD: Dianne, Randi, John, and Bernie
- MSA: Candy, Cathy, and Barbara
- PSP: Astrid, Tracy, Cristina, and Robin
- CBD: Mindy and others
We encourage caregivers to arrange for care or companionship for their loved ones while caregivers attend these meetings. Request a “respite care grant” from your county’s agency on aging or from your local California caregiver resource center. The Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California also offers respite grants for those dealing with dementia.
Occasionally we have guests. Guests have included a family consultant from Family Caregiver Alliance, a board member of the Lewy Body Dementia Association, and a board member of CurePSP.
We look forward to seeing you at some meetings in 2025!
If your family member with a neurological diagnosis of MSA, PSP or CBD would like to meet virtually with others, let us know. We coordinate virtual meetings for these audiences.