alzOC — Free Dementia Caregiver Support Groups — Orange County
Alzheimer’s Orange County (alzOC) is an independent nonprofit serving families across Orange County, California, affected by dementia. Their caregiver support groups are free, meet across the county and online, and are facilitated by professional staff and trained peer leaders. AlzOC pairs its support groups with care consultations, education, social engagement programs, and respite — so caregivers can build a layered support network that grows with the disease.
What to Expect
AlzOC’s caregiver groups meet monthly or biweekly in cities across Orange County including Anaheim, Irvine, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, and Mission Viejo, plus online via Zoom for caregivers who prefer or need to attend virtually. Sessions are confidential, peer-driven, and tend to follow a check-in format: each member shares what’s coming up for them, the group listens, and the conversation moves toward practical exchange — strategies, resources, and the kind of solidarity only other dementia caregivers can offer. Trained facilitators keep the conversation grounded and step in only when needed.
Who This Group Is For
Groups serve anyone caring for a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in Orange County. The lineup includes spousal caregiver groups, adult-child caregiver groups, early-stage caregiver groups, and groups for caregivers further along in the journey. AlzOC also runs activity-based programs and social clubs for people living with dementia, so caregivers can pair a support group with a couple of hours of meaningful engagement for their loved one.
Why Peer Support Works
Dementia caregivers in Orange County often describe feeling stretched in a particular way: a busy work life, a high cost of living, and a community where many neighbors don’t realize what’s happening behind the front door. Support groups answer that quietly powerful loneliness. Hearing another caregiver describe their week — and offer their hard-won strategies — turns an isolating experience into shared knowledge. Over months and years, groups also become a bench of people who will text you back when something hard happens.
How to Join
To find the current group schedule or be matched to the right group, visit alzoc.org/services/support-groups or call alzOC at (844) 373-4400. Staff can also connect caregivers to free care consultations, education classes, and respite scholarships. All support groups are free of cost.