Support Groups
Better Breathers Club
Stormont Vail Health’s Better Breathers Club was created to educate and support individuals living with chronic lung disease (COPD, asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis and more) and their caregivers. Members will learn skills to help manage their condition and live their lives to the fullest.
RSVP to Melanie Reamer at 785-270-4847 or [email protected]. Be sure to check out our Facebook page.
Cancer Support Group
The Cancer Support Group provides support to cancer patients, caregivers, and families during and after treatment. Open to adults age 18 and older, you will learn how cancer affects all aspects of your life, including physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. No reservation is required, and you don’t need to bring anything other than a willingness to connect with others and learn more about you or your loved one’s illness.
Call (785) 354-5300 for more information.
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
Stormont Vail Health is pleased to offer a bi-monthly support group for head and neck cancer patients to discover and share support on this journey.
Each session allows you to share experiences and suggestions, troubleshoot issues, and exchange resources.
When: Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month
Time: 1 p.m. — 2 p.m
Location: Cotton O’Neil Center Library, 1414 SW 8th Ave, Topeka, 66606
Group Facilitator: Allison Gunnoe, RD, LD, Cotton O’Neil Cancer Center Dietician
Alzheimer’s Support
When you or a loved one live with a progressive or chronic condition like Alzheimer’s or dementia, the right resources can make all the difference. As part of our mission, the Clinical Research team aims to help patients and their families find support when most needed.
Y(our) Alzheimer’s Journey: A Support Group for Caregivers
Are you a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease? Does your role leave you feeling Isolated? Could you use more support – or a social outlet? Remember – you’re not alone.
Join Y(our) Alzheimer’s Journey, a free caregiver support group led by Stormont Vail Clinical Research Neurology Department team members. In each session, you’ll connect with others who share your experiences, learn effective coping strategies, find new resources, and more.
Meetings occur on the third Monday of each month from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Stormont Vail Topeka Campus Hospital Pozez Education Center Centennial Rooms. For more information, call (785) 368-0795.
Free Memory Screenings for Adults Over 50
Are you concerned about memory loss in yourself or a loved one? Early detection is key to managing symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Memory screenings are not a diagnostic assessment – further testing may be needed based on the results. However, they offer an initial baseline to track changes in memory and other symptoms over time – Call (785) 368-0744 to schedule.
- Self-referrals welcome
- Available to anyone in the community
- This 30-point test takes about 30-45 minutes
- Chance to participate in clinical research depending on scoring results
- 1-2 week waiting period (based on interest and coordinator availability)
Memory loss is a common warning sign of Alzheimer’s, but it’s not the only one. Talk to a doctor if you or a loved one experience these symptoms in addition to memory loss:
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Visual hallucinations
- Reduced ability to smell
- REM sleep disturbances
Living with Diabetes Adult Support Group
The Living with Diabetes Adult Support Group gives adults with diabetes and their families a place to talk about their experiences and share concerns and questions. The goal is to support the daily efforts made by those with diabetes to live with their condition by allowing them to connect with others in the same situation.
Call (785) 368-0416 for more information.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group
Grief causes a wound that needs attention to heal. It takes courage to feel the pain and to face the unfamiliar. The Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group is here to provide information and support to families grieving the loss of their baby or babies through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, or infertility.
To inquire about the online private group, please contact Libby Rosen, Ph.D., RN, IBCLC, [email protected] or call (785) 845-3731.
