If you're wondering whether this is for you, you're in the right place.

Here's what people want to know before they join.

GETTING STARTED

What is Fireside Village?

A private online community for people caring for someone they love. It's a place to talk with other caregivers, find useful information, and spend time with people who understand what your day was like.

It isn't a support group with a schedule, and it isn't a website full of articles. It's a place where you know people and they know you.

Who is Fireside Village for?

Anyone caring for someone they love — a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a child, a friend. Some members are managing a new diagnosis. Some have been doing this for years. Some are caring from a distance, and some are in the house every day. You'll find people caring for someone with dementia, cancer, Parkinson's, stroke, frailty and old age, and a lot of things that don't have a tidy name.

You're also welcome if your caregiving has ended. A lot of what caregivers need most comes afterward.

What happens inside Fireside Village?

Conversation, mostly. The Village Square is where caregivers talk about caregiving. Ask questions, discuss hard days, things that worked. Find Your People connects you with members in situations like yours. Live Events are video conferences that bring the Village together in real time. Find Local Resources helps you locate services near you. Enter your zip code is all that’s needed. The Coffee House is for everything that isn't caregiving. In the Coffee House we listen to music, tell stories and visit about anything and everything and it’s a well deserved break from the caregiving day. The Village Library holds articles, books, videos and trusted outside resources.

And Jackson is there whenever you need him.

How much does membership cost?

$60 every three months. That's the only plan, and there are no add-ons.

What if I join and decide it isn't for me?

If you leave within your first 30 days, you can have your $60 back. After 30 days we don't offer refunds, but you can cancel anytime and keep access through the end of the quarter you've paid for.

How do I join?

Sign up on the membership page and set up your account. We'll take it from there and get you into the Village.

USING THE VILLAGE

What is Circle, and why do I need an account there?

Circle is the software Fireside Village runs on — the rooms, the conversations and your profile all live there. Think of it as the building we rent rather than a separate service you're joining. Creating your account is part of signing up.

Do I need to download an app?

No. The Village works in any web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. There's a Circle app if you prefer one, but nothing requires it.

What if I can't be online very often?

That's most of us. Nothing here expects you daily. Conversations stay put, so you can come back after three days or three weeks and pick up what you missed. Nobody's counting.

Do I have to post, or can I mostly read and listen?

You can read and listen as long as you like. Reading without posting is a perfectly normal way to be here. Be your normal self. Some people chat more than others. There is no right and wrong here.

What if I'm not good with technology?

You'll be fine. If you can use email, you can navigate Fireside Village. It's reading and typing, mostly. If you get stuck just ask, someone will walk you through it, and nobody here thinks less of anyone for asking.

BILLING AND MEMBERSHIP

When am I charged?

Your card is charged when you join, and automatically every three months after that unless you cancel.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes, from your own billing page. No email, no phone call, no explaining yourself.

What happens to my access when I cancel?

Cancelling stops your next payment. You keep full access through the end of the quarter you've already paid for.

Will my membership price ever go up?

Not if you're a Founding Member. Your founding price is locked for as long as you remain a member.

If you leave Fireside Village and decide to return later, you'll rejoin at the membership price being offered at that time.

Can I pause my membership?

There's no pause option. You don't need one just because life keeps you away for a few weeks — your membership and your conversations will be here when you get back. If you want to stop paying for a while, cancel and rejoin later.

JACKSON

Who is Jackson?

Jackson is Fireside Village's trusted AI caregiver companion, built for this community. Ask him a question, get help finding something, or work through something that isn't making sense. He's there in the quiet hours, when the rest of the Village is asleep.

Is Jackson a real person?

No. Jackson is artificial intelligence, and we'd rather say so plainly than have you wonder. He's useful, but he isn't a person and he doesn't pretend to be. He is a wealth of information and our members chat with him very frequently.

Can Jackson give me medical advice?

No. Fireside Village and Jackson do not provide medical advice and do not replace your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or anyone else on the care team.

What Jackson can do is help you organize information, prepare questions for the care team, and find reliable resources. Medical decisions belong with the people treating your person.

Do I have to use Jackson?

Use him as much or as little as you want. The Village works either way.

PRIVACY AND SAFETY

Who can see what I post?

What you post is visible to members who are part of the Village, and to the people and services needed to run it and keep it safe — that includes us and the platform the Village is built on. It is not public, and it is not out on the open web. Private DMs are available here as well (Direct Message).

DMs or private messages are not visible to other members who aren't part of the conversation.

Is anything I post searchable on Google?

No. The Village is private and requires a login, Fireside Village is an exclusive Membership so search engines cannot reach inside it. All conversations stay inside Fireside village

Do I have to use my real name?

We ask members to use their real first name and recommend adding a last initial — Nancy T., Mike D. Not your full legal name, just enough that people know who they're talking to.

Screen names and handles aren't the culture here. This is a room full of adults who know each other, not an anonymous forum. Same with photos: a real one is welcome, and so is a friendly avatar if you'd rather.

Will anyone try to sell me something?

Members can't use the Village to sell anything. That rule doesn't bend.

From time to time we partner with professional organizations to speak at live events. A hospice nurse, an attorney, medical equipment representatives, someone with real expertise to lead an event or contribute to a resource area. When that happens you'll know exactly who they are and who they work for. No pitches dressed up as conversation. If you wish to hire them or purchase resources from them you can chat them privately in a DM. Our Partners are not allowed to solicit you. That is against our rules. Our members frequently ask questions to our partners.

LIVE EVENTS

Do I have to be on camera?

No. The camera is optional. You're welcome to watch, listen, or take part with audio only.

What if I can't attend live?

You'll miss that one, and that's alright. Events come around regularly. Some are recorded and added to the Village Library afterward, though not all of them. Some conversations are better left in the room.

Who leads the live events?

It varies. Some are led by members. Some by invited guests — a hospice professional, a nurse, an attorney, someone with real experience in something caregivers deal with. Some are hosted by our founder. You'll always know who's leading before you join. Live Events schedule will be available to view on our calendar.

LIFE CHANGES AND HELP

What if the person I'm caring for dies?

You're welcome to stay as long as you want. Nothing changes, and nobody moves you along. Here at Fireside Village you then earn your wings and become a Caregiver Angel who assists others along in their journey.

People who've been through caregiving often carry experience that means a great deal to someone earlier on the road.

How do I reach a real person if I need help?

Message an admin inside the Village. Anything they can't answer comes to Danny our Founder. Send him a message. Remember he was a caregiver too (twice).

Still have a question?

Ask us before you join. We'd rather answer it now than have you wondering.

Or contact us — a real person reads every message.