Re: Support Group meetings

[Guest guest]

Hi Rosemarie. I live in Napa and we recently lost our facilitator for our meetings. So far, we've held one meeting on our own and I have sort of stepped up to try to keep things together. I have spoken to a woman in Health Ed and she assured me the room would be available to us throughout the rest of the year. The point here is that I believe the support group meetings can be successful and beneficial, even without a "facilitator" present. People can bring in articles from reputable sources, discuss relavent topics and learn from one another. True, I believe there does have to be someone kinda "overseeing" things so they don't get out of hand, but it can be done. So, if Kaiser is willing to supply a room, let Health Ed help get the word out and have your meetings.

Ron

Support Group meetings

Similarly, some of us would like to start a Support Group inLivermore. I spoke to the Health Ed dept at Livermore Kaiser thisweek, and to Dr. Hahn at the Fremont Support Group last night. Bothwere discouraging about Kaiser providing a moderator or any staffparticipation/attendance/presentations, ie, a doctor, therapist,nutritionist, etc, once in awhile, as this would be unpaid and ontheir own time. They would provide a meeting room and we (patients)would need to moderate and run it. That's O.K., for starters...Nevertheless, I would like to know how the other support groups that Iread about on here do manage to get staff involvement, as I do thinkthat it is an important component. Any other suggestions aboutstructure and what works best would be appreciated, also.Anyone interested in a Livermore-Pleasanton-Dublin area Support Group,please call Kaiser Health Ed. @ (925)243-2920 and let them know. Thanks.Rosemarie>> Phooey! And I was really looking forward to going to the supportgroup in Richmond. Maybe I'll try to start one at Kaiser of Marin. Any tips from anyone?> > Sherri

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Phooey! And I was really looking forward to going to the support

> group in Richmond. Maybe I'll try to start one at Kaiser of Marin.

> Any tips from anyone?

> >

> > Sherri

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[Guest guest]

Ron & ,

Thank you for your responses and suggestions. I agree that we can

proceed since we do have a room available and a couple of us who are

willing to facilitate. Hopefully, we will be able to bring in some

professional guest speakers eventually. These next two weeks are very

busy for me at work, but I may be contacting you for more info. after

that.

Rosemarie

>

> >

> > Hi Rosemarie. I live in Napa and we recently lost our facilitator

> for our meetings. So far, we've held one meeting on our own and I

> have sort of stepped up to try to keep things together. I have

> spoken to a woman in Health Ed and she assured me the room would be

> available to us throughout the rest of the year. The point here is

> that I believe the support group meetings can be successful and

> beneficial, even without a " facilitator " present. People can bring

> in articles from reputable sources, discuss relavent topics and learn

> from one another. True, I believe there does have to be someone

> kinda " overseeing " things so they don't get out of hand, but it can

> be done. So, if Kaiser is willing to supply a room, let Health Ed

> help get the word out and have your meetings.

> >

> > Ron

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> >I started a support group in Kaiser at Santa , in San .

> If you already have a room, that's great. Draw up some rules and

> guidelines with the group, and someone can act as facilitator. It's

> especially important to control the " cross-talk " . One-at-a-time

> talking is a good rule. We pass around a stuffed animal or a ball,

> and whoever has it, gets to talk. You need someone willing to keep

> things moving and to quiet everyone down if things get out of hand.

> Kaiser can't supply a facilitator to every group in every town, so we

> have to do it ourselves! It's very empowering, and is a good step on

> our journey. I'd be happy to help out with any questions you might

> have. Go for it!! Good luck!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

this is the way the South Sac Big Horn meets are. We introduce

ourselves and tell where we are in the process. We share what works

and what doesn't. We have even shared cloths. I like the idea of

getting Vida Lady or something like that to a meeting.

PEGGY

>

> es support group was just started by a post op person quit a

few years back. She just runs the meeting, we have talk time,

introduce ourselfs tell a little about where we are and where we are

trying to go, then we have a topic for the night, sometimes if theres

time then people will bring up other topics. She has had Vita Lady

come once since I was there, but really it's just patients. So these

kinds of groups do work. Donna J.

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> Donna Jordon

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> DSJordon@...

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