Council on Aging — Free Caregiver Support Groups in St. Augustine, FL
The Council on Aging of St. Johns County (COA) offers free caregiver support to family caregivers in St. Johns County, Florida — the St. Augustine area and surrounding communities. COA’s Caregiver Support program combines peer support groups, one-on-one consultations, respite assistance, and connection to community resources, all designed to help families sustain the long work of caring for an older loved one.
What to Expect
COA’s caregiver support groups meet monthly at the Council on Aging’s facilities in St. Augustine and at satellite locations across the county. Sessions are facilitated by trained staff and follow a confidential, peer-driven format. Members share what’s happening for them, listen to others, and trade strategies on the practical and emotional weight of family caregiving. Caregivers can also pair group attendance with one-on-one consultations to address specific situations — a new diagnosis, a difficult conversation, a transition to a higher level of care.
Who This Group Is For
The program serves unpaid family caregivers of older adults in St. Johns County. That includes adult children caring for parents, spouses, partners, siblings, and friends who have become primary caregivers. The Council on Aging serves more than 25,000 older adults and caregivers across the region each year, so caregivers can plug into a broader network of senior services including adult day programs, Meals on Wheels, transportation, and in-home care.
Why Peer Support Works
Caregiving in a smaller, growing community like St. Johns County often means relying on local networks — neighbors, faith communities, longtime friends. Adding a structured caregiver support group to those informal networks gives caregivers a place where the focus is specifically on them: their well-being, their decisions, their grief. Over time, the group becomes a small steady community of others who understand without needing the backstory.
How to Join
All COA caregiver support services are free. To enroll in a support group or schedule a caregiver consultation, call the Council on Aging at (904) 209-3700 or visit coasjc.org/caregiver-support. Staff will conduct a brief intake and connect caregivers with the right mix of group support, respite, and community services.