This page lists all (known to us) in-person support groups in Northern/Central California for those dealing with one or more of the atypical parkinsonism disorders:
Support Groups Focused on Atypical Parkinsonisms
Brain Support Network Lewy Body Dementia Caregiver Support Group
Who: Caregivers, family members, and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area
Diagnoses: LBD, DLB, and PDD
Location: San Mateo. During the pandemic, we are meeting virtually — video or audio.
When: Sunday, 5-7pm, about every 6 weeks
Note: Must RSVP by noon the day before each meeting
Contact: Robin Riddle, supportgroup@
Brain Support Network Multiple System Atrophy Caregiver Support Group
Who: Caregivers, family members, and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area
Diagnoses: MSA
Location: San Mateo. During the pandemic, we are meeting virtually — video or audio.
When: Sunday, 5-7pm, about every 6 weeks
Note: Must RSVP by noon the day before each meeting
Contact: Robin Riddle, supportgroup@
Brain Support Network Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration Caregiver Support Group
Who: Caregivers, family members, and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area
Diagnoses: PSP, CBD, CBS
Location: San Mateo. During the pandemic, we are meeting virtually — video or audio.
When: Sunday, 5-7pm, about every 6 weeks
Note: Must RSVP by noon the day before each meeting
Contact: Robin Riddle, supportgroup@
Gold River Lewy Body Group
Who: Caregivers and family members
Diagnoses: LBD. Some Alzheimer’s caregivers join in.
Location: Eskaton Lodge, Gold River
When: 2nd Thursday, 10-11:30am
Contact: Denise Davis, Alzheimer’s Association, [email protected], 916-930-9080
North Bay Lewy Body Dementia Group
Who: Caregivers and family members
Diagnoses: LBD
Location: Alzheimer’s Association office, Santa Rosa
When: 2nd Tuesday, 4:30-6pm
Contact: Carrie Healy, LCSW, [email protected], 707-321-6018, or Helen Medsger, [email protected], 707-477-1210
Support Groups Focused on Other Disorders
If there are no PSP, LBD, MSA, or CBD support groups near you, consider joining a support group for a similar disorder. It’s certainly worth trying out a Parkinson’s Disease support group in your area! Many of these PD support groups are for caregivers only, and you will find LBD, PSP, CBD, and MSA caregivers attending.
Check out these links on the Stanford University web site of PD support groups in Northern California:
- Parkinson’s Disease support groups in Northern California
- Parkinson’s Disease caregiver-only support groups in Northern California
Sometimes PSP and CBD caregivers attend Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) support groups since PSP and CBD are subtypes of FTD. Note that these groups are generally focused on the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia. There are FTD caregiver-only support groups in San Francisco and Sacramento. Find details here on The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) web site.
Finally, if you are a caregiver, consider attending a dementia caregiver support group (many of which are run by the Alzheimer’s Association such that most attendees are Alzheimer’s Disease caregivers) or a general caregiver support group. Check out this link on the Stanford University web site: