"Līdzās būt" is a support group for people who provide long-term care for their loved ones, people who understand what it means "when another person's life can at times mean more than your own, when you have to create a new daily routine adapted to the other person's needs." The group offers emotional, spiritual, and sometimes practical support, but it is not therapy that delves into internal psychological processes.
"When you meet people who are experiencing similar situations and emotions as you, you no longer feel so alone. You stop perceiving your situation as unique because you see that you are not alone and that many different situations are possible. Experience shows that after attending the group, people feel better and stronger because we find support, friends, and the opportunity to vent frustration, anger, and shame in a very supportive and safe environment," says Irēna Reina, one of the leaders of the "Līdzās būt" support group.
Indra, who attended the first "Līdzās būt" support group organized by HospissLV every week for two months, confirms this: "It has become easier for me. In the support group, there was an opportunity to talk about what hurts, and thus it felt like a part of the burden that was on my shoulders was lifted. And I let it go. As a result, I have a feeling of relief. Objectively, nothing has changed in my situation—caring for my adult son—but my feelings have. My outlook on life, on what has happened, is lighter." Indra has been caring for her adult son for 5.5 years following a serious accident, so she knows how important it is to "forcibly carve out" time for yourself and your own life, to continue living your OWN LIFE, no matter how difficult and challenging the situation may be. Indra knows how hard it is to find reliable helpers, how hard it is to trust them for the first time, believing that nothing bad will happen to your loved one in your absence, but it must be done for yourself and your health. If you are not "recharged," if you do not feel well, you cannot be a support person for your loved one.
The first meeting is scheduled for September 25th, and the group will meet weekly on Wednesdays until December 18th
The group can accommodate up to 10 participants.
Meetings will be held remotely via Zoom or in person in Āgenskalns, Riga, from 19:00 to 21:00.
Participation in the group is by a donation of €5
To join the group, you must fill out an application form
The group will be led by two moderators, Irēna Reina and Aleksejs Beloglazovs
Each potential group participant who fills out the application form will be contacted individually
