Free Caregiver Support Groups - St. Paul, MN | Wilder
The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation hosts three ongoing caregiver support groups in St. Paul for people caring for a parent, partner, neighbor, or anyone else facing a chronic health condition or dementia. Wilder has been part of the Saint Paul community for well over a century, and its Healthy Aging and Caregiving program treats caregiving as something that deserves structure and company — not something you should be expected to absorb alone.
What to Expect
Three distinct groups meet each month. The First Friday Caregiver Support Group meets the first Friday, 9:00–10:30 a.m., in person at the Wilder Center — coffee, treats, and conversation with other caregivers supporting someone with a chronic health condition. The Memory Loss Discussion Group meets the second Thursday, 10:00–11:30 a.m., in person, for those caring for someone with dementia. The Adult Children Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday, 6:00–7:30 p.m., virtually, for people caring for parents, grandparents, or other parental figures facing any health condition. Beyond the groups, Wilder offers a welcoming first consultation, information and assistance from a Caregiver Support Specialist, and one-to-one caregiver consultation to help build a plan.
Who This Group Is For
Anyone in the caregiving role, whether or not they have ever used that word for themselves. Wilder makes the point directly: caregiving includes everyday acts like medication reminders and rides to appointments, and recognizing yourself as a caregiver is the first step to getting support. The Adult Children group is specifically for people caring for a parent or parental figure, which is a distinct experience worth its own room. The evening virtual option exists for people who cannot leave the house or the workday.
Why Peer Support Works
Caregivers routinely rank their own needs last, and the cost compounds quietly — sleep, health, work, and relationships all absorb the strain before anyone names it. Sitting monthly with people who recognize the situation without explanation interrupts that pattern. It normalizes the ambivalence and exhaustion that caregivers are often ashamed to say aloud, and it surfaces concrete local knowledge about services, benefits, and workarounds. Connection is not a soft extra here; it is what makes a long caregiving stretch survivable.
How to Join
Registration is required. Email or call 651-280-2273 (CARE) to get started; the virtual group link is provided on request. In-person groups meet at the Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway N, St. Paul, MN 55104. Programs are offered on a sliding fee scale based on income with a suggested contribution, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. These programs are funded in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging through the Older Americans Act. Wilder is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; its main line is 651-280-2000.