Sun Lakes UMC is hosting a free program to the community called Understanding the Journey of Dementia on Wednesday, October 5 in the church’s hospitality building.

The program will be presented by Maribeth Gallagher, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice. Ms. Gallagher, who is director of Hospice of the Valley’s dementia program, has received national and international awards for the program’s innovative approaches to dementia care. Her commitment to improving dementia care was initially inspired by her own experiences as a family caregiver, sharing the journey with her loved one with dementia from diagnosis to death.

This free program will be held from 9:00 a.m.-noon in Lindsay Hall, at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served. Preregistration is required by Monday, October 3, by calling  602-636-5396.