John Waltner has been the chaplain at Emerald Heights in Redmond for more than nine years.

In this role, he works to make sure the spiritual needs of the retirement community’s residents are met. No matter what their tradition or approach may be, it is his job to provide them with the right resources so they can access the support they need.

In addition to meeting people’s spiritual needs, Waltner is also in charge of providing Emerald Heights residents other types of support. This comes in the form of groups with specific programming.

When he began working at Emerald Heights almost a decade ago, a former employee had started the groups and after they left the community, Waltner said he felt it was important for the groups to continue.

He also started two groups: an Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiver support group and a Parkinson’s disease support group.

Although the groups’ meetings are held at Emerald Heights, Waltner said they are both open to the broader community and anyone can attend meetings.

“That’s one of the neat things about these groups,” he said about the open membership.

And while both groups provide support, Waltner said they have different needs.

For the caregiver group, he said the group is a way for people who feel the stress of their role to come together and “let it out.” People can share their stories and challenges with the group, knowing others are going through similar things and understand. Waltner also provides people with information on studies, the latest research, new medications and the like.

According to a press release from Emerald Heights, Waltner has also been where members of this group have been. His father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s sometime after he started the caregiver support group. Waltner acted as a long-distance caregiver as his father lived out of state.

“As someone whose father had Alzheimer’s, Waltner knew the toll that it could take on friends and family,” the release reads continuing to state that he understands the need for a group to “address the issues and educate attendees on the effects of the disease.”

In the Parkinson’s group, Waltner said, people are typically more interested in the information and content side of things. So he makes sure to provide this, even setting up presentations for the group. The Emerald Heights release states that the group also emphasized “physical activity and fitness to help those affected cope to their new way of life.”

In addition to individuals currently dealing with the diseases’ effects, Waltner said a number of individuals who attend the meetings are those who have lost people to the illnesses and want to help others.

The Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiver support group meetings are at 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. The Parkinson’s disease support group meets at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. Waltner said for those coming from outside of Emerald Heights, they just need to check in at the front desk and they will be directed to the meeting.

Walter has also offered, at various times, bereavement groups when it has been needed for those who are dealing with significant loss.

And recently, Waltner started a support group specifically for male caregivers, which is limited to Emerald Heights residents only.

“Men operate differently as caregivers,” he said about the need for the group.

Walter said sometimes, it is easier for men to open up and share what they are dealing with if they’re among other men.

In the near future, he said he would also like to start a caregiver support group for women and enlist either a female resident or female staff member to run it.

Walter, who was a minister prior to becoming a chaplain 11 years ago, said small group interactions can be very beneficial to people, citing the impact 12-step groups for various types of addiction can have.

“You need that kind of connection,” he said.

Waltner said if everyone in the community who needed these types of support groups actually attended meetings, the groups would be much larger. However, he noted, having a smaller, more intimate group gives more attendees the opportunity to talk and share.

For more information, visit www.emeraldheights.com.