Mutual support groups whose members are people who have experienced a loss, such as the death of a loved one, divorce or separation. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; are open to anyone who has had a loss rather than structured for people with particular types of losses; and focus on helping participants accept their loss, express their grief, move through the bereavement process and put their lives back together.

Mutual support groups whose members are family, friends, significant others, non-familial caregivers or attendants who are caring for someone who has a temporary, chronic, life-threatening or terminal illness or disability or who is elderly and increasingly unable to provide for his or her own care. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide emotional support, information and resources to help participants ensure their own well-being while remaining involved in the intense care of a loved one. Also included are care receiver support groups that help people who have a caregiver cope with the fact that they require care. Care receiver support groups are often offered in conjunction with caregiver support groups and are structured to allow care receivers to participate in their own group while their caregiver attends another.

Mutual support groups whose members are people who have specific disabilities, illnesses or other health conditions, their families and friends. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide an opportunity for participants to share information, resources, practical tips for daily living and encouragement about issues related to the disability or health problem.

Mutual support groups whose members are pregnant women or women who have had difficulties in areas relating to family planning, pregnancy and childbirth. Included are groups for individuals who are pregnant for the first time, women who are contemplating a home birth, breastfeeding women, families making decisions relating to birth control, women who have had a cesarean birth, women who are at high risk for a problem pregnancy and parents of premature or high-risk infants. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide an opportunity for participants to share their experience, strengths and hopes, understand their relationships and work through related emotions.

Mutual support groups whose members are people who have a life-threatening illness, their families and friends. The groups help participants cope with the feelings of depression, anger, anxiety, fear, guilt and grief that arise when facing impending death or when a loved one is seriously ill; the resulting strain on relationships and friendships; and other end of life issues. Meeting formats may include in-person, telephone or Internet options.

Family members, friends, neighbors and others who assume responsibility for attending to the daily needs of individuals who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves due to general frailty; illnesses, injuries or progressively debilitating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or mental illness; or other incapacitating problems without compensation. Some, but not all, states have programs that help people pay for the caregiver of their choice, and in certain circumstances that can be a family member. Most of these programs have income and other eligibility requirements that the care recipient must meet, and strict rules often apply as to who can be paid for the caregiving. Benefits may also be available for veterans and their families through the Veteran's Administration.

Acute or chronic illnesses, injuries or other pathological conditions which affect the individual's physical well-being.

A condition in which there is an intercranial mass which may be primary (formed in the brain) or metastatic (cancers elsewhere in the body that spread to the brain). Brain tumors can also be malignant or benign. The cause of brain tumors is largely unknown. They can occur in people of any age. Symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor. The most common are headaches, seizures, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, personality changes, difficulty with movement or balance and changes in hearing, speech, or vision.

Any of a broad group of malignant neoplasms which are either carcinomas which have their origin in epithelial tissues or sarcomas which develop from connective tissues and those structures which had their origin in mesodermal tissues (the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic and urogenital systems and the linings of body cavities). Cancer is invasive and tends to metastasize to new sites spreading directly into surrounding tissues or through the lymphatic or circulatory systems.

One of a group of conditions called motor system disorders which result from loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Symptoms of PD include tremor (trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face), rigidity (stiffness of the limbs and trunk); bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and postural instability (impaired balance and coordination). As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. The disease usually affects people over the age of 50, can be difficult to diagnose accurately and may require brain scans or laboratory tests to rule out other conditions.

Individuals who have experienced a loss, such as the death of a loved one or pet, divorce or separation, estrangement from a family member or any other kind of significant loss whose own patterns of personal, social and familial coping have been significantly affected as a result.