Community Building Program Connects Isolated Lander Caregivers Through Peer Support

In Lander, hundreds of adults are caring for aging loved ones, but many face this demanding role in isolation without support or community connection. Geographic isolation makes caregiving particularly challenging—specialists are hours away, services available in larger cities don’t exist locally, and finding respite care is difficult. When a community member who recently cared for her own mother recognized how intense and isolating the experience can be, she reached out to LOR with a plan to create a support network for all Lander caregivers through Anam Cara Caregiving. This pilot program will bring caregivers together through semi-monthly gatherings with facilitated discussions, outdoor activities, and opportunities for connection, allowing participants to share experiences and organically develop solutions to common challenges like the need for senior daycare or respite care resources. The program will reach caregivers through both print newsletters—preferred by older generations—and social media engagement for younger participants. LOR’s funding will help cover the costs for venue rentals, facilitators for group discussions and follow-up support, and outreach materials, establishing a foundation that can be sustained through additional funding identified for future years.