The Caregiver Cafe will host its first meeting at 7 p.m. July 14 at the American Cancer Society’s West Cook office, 7234 W. Ogden Ave. in Riverside.

The cafe is a support group for spouses, friends and family members of those battling cancer who will meet the second Tuesday of the month. There will be a presentation at the first meeting called “Good Nutrition for the Ones You Love” by Joyce Angell, a registered dietitian and professor at Concordia University.

The purpose of the cafe is to provide information as well as an opportunity for caregivers to network and share ideas with each other. Each month, medical, emotional or practical topics will be discussed and an outside speaker will be featured. Presentations will be followed by coffee and refreshments.

The group was started by John Grzesiak, a lung cancer survivor and American Cancer Society volunteer, because he knows firsthand how difficult the cancer journey is for both patients and caregivers.

The American Medical Association has given a name to overburdened caregivers, “the patients behind the patients,” and this group will offer support for them.
For more information, contact Raeann Spencer at (708) 484-8541.