BRANCHES

Growing through caregiving

Caring for a loved one living with dementia is both an act of extraordinary love and a journey of continual change. It brings moments of connection and beauty alongside deep challenges of grief, fatigue, and uncertainty. Caregivers deserve a space not only to learn practical tools, but also to be seen, supported, and renewed.

Rediscover connection, re-root love, and thrive through every season of care.

The Branches Program is a 12-part caregiver and support group experience designed to nurture understanding, resilience, and community. Guided by the imagery of a growing tree—its roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and canopy—this series helps caregivers anchor themselves in knowledge while also expanding their capacity for presence, grace, and growth.

Each night introduces a new theme that builds upon the last, creating both a structured education and a symbolic shared art piece: a collaborative “Thrive Tree” mural. Through reflection, creative expression, and skill-building, participants will discover ways to:

Deepen knowledge of dementia types, stages, and symptoms

Strengthen compassionate caregiving strategies for communication, self-regulation, and boundary-setting

Process grief and identity shifts experienced along the caregiving journey

Access professional resources such as respite care, day centers, and community services

Reconnect with joy and shared meaning through rituals, art, and humor

Reinvest in self-identity and advocacy, ensuring caregivers also grow as whole individuals

The Thrive Tree symbolizes the caregiver’s journey: roots anchored in knowledge, a trunk representing identity and resilience, branches of healthy communication, leaves reflecting love and gratitude, and a canopy celebrating both legacy and renewal. By the final gathering, each caregiver will hold not only practical tools but also a living metaphor of their strength—an artwork built together, honoring loved ones and their own growth.

This program is not just about providing care—it is about growing while giving, finding purpose in difficulty, and remembering that no caregiver has to walk alone.

Night 1: The Root System

Understanding Dementia & Memory Care

Explore types/stages of dementia: Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, vascular, frontotemporal
Learn appropriate caregiver responses to common symptoms (e.g., memory lapses, sundowning, confusion)
Kickoff ritual: planting a group “Thrive Tree” mural with each caregiver’s name at the roots

Night 2: The Trunk of Identity

Grieving Who Was, Loving Who Is

Discuss ambiguous loss and identity evolution
Introduce the “Then & Now” journaling tool for reflection without comparison
Interactive: trunk collage showing strengths past and present

Night 3: Strong Branches, New Directions

Healthy Boundaries & Communication

Role-play responses to emotional triggers, repetitive questions, resistance
Create a branching map of caregiver needs vs. loved one's capacities
Visual takeaway: Communication Branch Card