It's a heartbreaking statistic: more than 50 million Americans care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. After giving so much, where do caregivers turn to for help?

Forums such as the Caregivers Support Group at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital allow participants to discuss their situation with people that understand the most, fellow caregivers. "What's important for caregiver is to feel connected to someone else, even if it's for 60 to 90 minutes every other week," said Melissa Delaney, LCSW and facilitator of Henry Mayo's Caregivers Support Group. "Often, family members and friends don't get it. When you have support from people who are in a similar situation, you can just be sad or angry for a little while without judgment."

Formed in March, 2007, Henry Mayo's free Caregivers Support Group meets twice a month on the hospital's campus and often includes discussions on medical topics such as cardiac health, neurological and respiratory issues, diabetes, and caring for amputees and those with brain injuries.

"In-home care is usually supervised by family practice physicians," said David Henry, MD and director of emergency services at Henry Mayo. "But caregivers always need to watch out for new or increasing medical conditions, such as confusion, fever, weakness, chest or abdominal pain, especially in the elderly."

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP, the typical family caregiver is a 46, female, married, and employed. Family caregivers who provide 36 hours or more of care weekly are twice as likely than non-caregivers to become depressed or anxious; if caring for spouses, that figure jumps to six times higher than a non-caregiver.

"If a participant in our group seems to be anxious or depressed, we can provide referrals to psychologists for them," Delaney said. "Or we can advise on research or educational materials for specific issues, such as brain injuries, and direct caregivers to online or specialized support groups." Practical information ranging from finances to handling prescriptions and medical appointments are also presented at the Caregivers Support Group.

Perhaps the most important task for caregivers is not losing themselves in the process, as Delaney illustrated. "There's a lot of grief, anger, and loss involved with care giving, it's often a 24/7 responsibility. We really promote finding at least five minutes a day just to breathe, relax, listen to music, or do something that you enjoy," she said. "Caregivers always need to make time for themselves."

Henry Mayo's Caregiver Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. in the Acute Rehab Unit (ARU) dining room in the Nursing Pavilion on campus. For more information, call Melissa Delaney at (661) 253-8919.