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Every day, Hospice of the Valley strives to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients and families on the dementia journey. Watch our local TV stories, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on events, support groups, workshops and more!

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09/30/2026

100 Sessions and 5,000 Memory Care Staff Trained

The Dementia Care and Education Campus recently celebrated an exciting milestone: our 100th session of the DHS Initial Dementia Training for memory care staff. Since launching the program in August 2025, our team has provided the state-required eight-hour initial dementia training to nearly 5,000 memory care staff across Arizona.
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09/29/2026

Creating Meaningful Moments, One Kit at a Time

National Charity League and Boys Team Charity volunteers are assembling 840 “Meaningful Moments Kits” to be distributed through local libraries to individuals living with dementia and their care partners.
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Dementia occupational therapist Calli Carlson provides memory care training to community caregivers.
09/11/2026

Leading the Way in Dementia Education

Congratulations to our expert Dementia Team! A newly published report in Alzheimer's & Dementia showcases how HOV is helping raise the bar for dementia care across Arizona.
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Group gathers for support meeting
07/24/2026

Helping People Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment Find Connection and Hope

We created the support group Gather to give people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) a place to talk openly, without judgment, about what they are experiencing. The group has become so popular that starting in August, it will meet weekly!
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Caretake with patient
06/25/2026

Life-changing Insights for Both Professional and Family Dementia Caregivers

I’ve worked with both groups of caregivers, these principles apply everywhere. Every month, I stand in front of hundreds of people who have chosen not only to work in healthcare, but to work in one of its most misunderstood specialties: dementia care.
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Amanda White speaking
06/02/2026

Tips for making a Keepsake Soundtrack

A Keepsake Soundtrack captures the songs that have shaped your life and supports brain engagement now and in the future! Board certified music therapist Amanda Marcum shares tips for creating a personalized playlist.
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Amanda and Maribeth talking
06/01/2026

Personalized Music and the Mind

We encourage everyone to make a Keepsake Soundtrack that’s a personal playlist of songs that are the most loved and meaningful to you!
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ASU student with male dementia patient
05/28/2026

The Top 3 Questions About Our New RISE Program

Respite in Student Engagement (RISE) connects families caring for someone living with dementia, with students from Arizona State University to offer affordable respite care. Here’s what caregivers almost always ask about the program!
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Emily Jane Crawford, a pre-med student at ASU, visits patient
04/15/2026

When caregivers need a break, this ASU and Hospice of the Valley collaboration can be a lifesaver

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter once said there are four kinds of people in the world: “Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers."
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Emily-Jane Crawford and patient Bud Addison doing a puzzle
04/07/2026

Students Provide a Lifeline for Dementia Caregivers

When ASU junior Emily-Jane Crawford finishes her classes and homework, she travels to Glendale to visit a very special friend. Bud Addison is 81 years old, and despite his dementia, Emily-Jane’s visits are the highlight of his week.
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03/25/2026

Dementia-Friendly Design

We built our campus from the ground-up to ensure we created exactly what was needed to support people living with dementia. But you don’t need to start from blueprints to create a safe home environment.
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Couple hugging on a bench
01/29/2026

The Heart Always Remembers

We asked couples in our campus programs how they stay connected and create meaningful moments together through the dementia journey.
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01/20/2026

Dementia Insights: AZ Big Podcast

Thank you to AZ Big Media for inviting Community Engagement Director Lin Sue Flood and Dementia Program Director Maribeth Gallagher to share the extensive support and expertise Hospice of the Valley offers to families caring for a loved one with dementia.
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Elisha walks with James to brighten his day and reduce caregiver stress.
12/10/2025

Hospice of the Valley GUIDE program supports caregivers

James, a lifelong athlete with 82 marathons under his belt, is facing his toughest challenge now: a type of dementia called primary progressive aphasia. But he’s not alone.
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Gift Boxes
12/02/2025

Our Best of 2025!

Our staff spends thousands of hours talking to caregivers and people living with dementia. We asked them to share some helpful tools and techniques they used a lot in 2025.
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Director of Community Engagement Lin Sue Flood and Dementia Program Director Maribeth Gallagher
10/30/2025

Harmonious Holidays When a Loved One is Living with Dementia

Hospice of the Valley’s Director of Community Engagement Lin Sue Flood and Dementia Program Director Maribeth Gallagher have both experienced the challenges of supporting a loved one with dementia.
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10/09/2025

Hospice of the Valley launches support group for people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can be an isolating experience, but a new program from Hospice of the Valley offers a welcoming space for connection and support.
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Dementia Program Director Dr. Maribeth Gallagher, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
09/29/2025

Dementia Bytes Virtual Classes Offer a Space for Questions and Expert Answers

Every week Hospice of the Valley's Dementia Program Director Dr. Maribeth Gallagher offers up her expertise to anyone who has a question about dementia. She is passionate about providing these kind of open question and answer sessions because they truly help families facing challenges they never anticipated.
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ASU student with male dementia patient
09/17/2025

Low-cost respite service offered

A new program is bringing together Arizona State University students and Hospice of the Valley to provide support to families caring for a person with dementia at home or in a facility.
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Kathy Melamed and Rebekah Wilson role-play realistic scenarios in dementia training videos.
09/07/2025

Raising the standard of Arizona’s dementia care

Arizona is setting a bold new standard to better support families impacted by dementia. A groundbreaking state mandate requires all memory care facilities to provide up to 12 hours of specialized dementia training to their staff, plus four hours of continuing education each year.
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Hospice of the Valley building
08/05/2025

Arizona health department authorizes Hospice of the Valley to train memory care staff

Assisted living facilities that offer memory care services must now provide enhanced training for staff who work with residents living with dementia.
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Volunteers help dementia patients with crafts
07/28/2025

New Volunteer Group Empowers People Living with Dementia

Sometimes, simple conversations spark beautiful ideas. During a recent town hall meeting, our Adult Day Club members were talking about things they enjoyed doing but can’t anymore. “It could be driving or working, but a couple of club members brought up volunteering,” club manager Sara Meins explains.
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Video interview
07/27/2025

When the "Love of Your Life" doesn't remember your name, what do you do?

Are you familiar with the “validate, connect and redirect” method? Learn what it means — and so much more — in a riveting podcast about dementia care. Arizona icon Pat McMahon recently hosted Calli Carlson, our campus occupational therapist, for an enlightening conversation.
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Calli Carlson leads Dementia Moments training for Sky Harbor TSA agents
06/17/2025

Helping Travelers with Dementia

TSA officers at Phoenix Sky Harbor are learning how to better support passengers with dementia — thanks to innovative training led by Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Team.
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Dementia Campus
06/14/2025

PBS Highlights Our Innovative Dementia Campus

Maribeth Gallagher, Dementia Program Director for Hospice of the Valley, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss what the campus offers and how it can help those with dementia or who are caring for someone with dementia.
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Rich Goldsmith and his wife Susan.
06/01/2025

The Roaring ‘20s: Hospice of the Valley hosts senior prom

At the Dementia Care and Education Campus in Arcadia, the spirit of the Roaring ’20s came to life as Hospice of the Valley hosted its second annual senior prom. With pearls, feathers, vintage flair, and a whole lot of heart, this unforgettable evening was more than just a dance, it was a joyful celebration of life, connection, and music.
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Maribeth Gallagher giving lecture
05/29/2025

Gather, a New Peer-Led Support Group for People Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment

People living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) continue to manage their daily lives independently, but they may notice changes in brain function compared to previous years.
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Dr. Gill Hamilton, Kylee Volk and RN Sara Crance.
04/22/2025

Supportive Care for Dementia's innovative approach featured in Sage Journals

In April, Sage Journals published an eye-opening research article authored by SCD Medical Director Dr. Gill Hamilton, RN Sara Crance and associate team leader Kylee Volk, along with ASU professor Dr. Tamiko Azuma and student Ethan Best.
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Dementia patient with caretaker
03/29/2025

Top 5 Adult Day Club Activities to Try at Home

When people visit our Adult Day Club, they’re often surprised by how full and lively the schedule is. Our team specializes in dementia friendly engagement — activities that are social, fun and therapeutic.
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Calli Carlson, Occupational Therapist
03/26/2025

Small Movements Can Have Big Impact

This April, our occupational therapist Calli Carlson will lead an in-depth workshop on mobility. She’ll share ways to improve safety and reduce risk of falls for persons living with dementia. We asked Calli about what it takes for someone living with dementia to maintain or even improve mobility.
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Gill Hamilton on cover of magazine
03/10/2025

A ‘Top Doc’ for over 10 years, Dr. Gill Hamilton reflects on progress in dementia care

We have some very cool news to share! Dr. Gillian Hamilton, medical director of our Supportive Care for Dementia program, was just named a Phoenix Magazine“Top Doc.”
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Amanda Marcum with grandmother
01/27/2025

Helping Kids Connect with Loved Ones Living with Dementia

Amanda Marcum grew up with one official sibling — her brother. But she always felt like she had another sibling who she adored hanging out with — her beloved Granny Oopie. “We played together.
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Dementia Campus with YMCA children
12/02/2024

Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Campus partners with Valley of the Sun YMCA

Two of the largest nonprofits in Arizona have come together to create a unique environment that benefits both young children and families living with dementia. Hospice of the Valley’s innovative Dementia Care and Education Campus features a preschool operated by the YMCA’s Y-Academy Preschool.
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Fifth-graders from Christ Lutheran School visited HOV’S Adult Day Club members and spent the day painting, gardening and playing games
12/01/2024

Hospice of the Valley and CLS bridge the generation gap

Hospice of the Valley (HOV) and Christ Lutheran School (CLS) are entering the second year of a partnership that connects students with individuals at the Dementia Care and Education Campus.
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Nursing students from Creighton University in class
11/15/2024

Educating and inspiring healthcare students to care about dementia

Arizona has the fastest growth rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the country. Yet there are not enough paid caregivers or even geriatricians — only 92 in the entire state — for this population.
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Susan and Sophia play with dinosaurs
06/12/2024

Hospice of the Valley Dementia Program Enriches Young and Old

At first glance, it looks like “Grandparents’ Day” at preschool — a roomful of giggling seniors playing peekaboo with a dozen toddlers.
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Maribeth Gallagher, Dementia Program Director for Hospice of the Valley
06/04/2024

How to Provide Excellent Dementia Care for Patients with Dementia—and Their Families

Clinician knowledge about dementia is sometimes limited, regardless of one's extensive education. Familiarity with associated pathologies is one thing, but understanding how to navigate any number of challenges that commonly arise while attempting to optimize quality of life for people living with dementia, and their care partners, poses distinct challenges.
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Chinmay Malik and Ethan Best
06/01/2024

ASU Student Volunteers Make a Difference at Dementia Campus

Volunteers are a vital part of Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus, and Arizona State University student volunteers Ethan Best and Chinmay Malik are passionate about volunteering. Both are Medical Studies majors at ASU’s College of Health Solutions.
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Lauren Stokesberry
06/01/2024

Arizona State Student Volunteer Impacts Lives at The Dementia Campus

Lauren Stokesberry did not expect to bond with a stranger when she signed up for her ASU volunteer course. She went into the course not knowing what to expect.
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Ashley Lautar brings her expertise and heart to Dementia Care and Education Campus.
05/22/2024

Nurse Practitioner Enriches the Lives of Dementia Patients

Ashley Lautar grew up around a community that embodied passion and selflessness. Being raised around a family of nurses motivated her to become a nurse practitioner herself.
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Firefighters taking training class
05/17/2024

MFMD receives dementia training from Hospice of the Valley

The Maricopa Fire/Medical Department recently received dementia training hosted by Hospice of the Valley at a program titled “Dementia Moments.”
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Sara Meins and Adult Day Club members wearing hats
05/16/2024

Adult Day Club Manager Creates Community for Dementia Patients

Colorful paintings adorn the room, their styles ranging from charming and clumsy to refined and soulful. The room’s occupants chatter, talking happily. A beanbag lies on the floor, a remnant of a particularly enthusiastic game of cornhole.
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Maribeth Gallagher giving lecture
04/15/2024

How To Reduce Stress When Caring for Aging Parents

With all that’s going on in our country, our economy, the world, and on social media, so many of us are under a great deal of stress. Caring for elderly or aging parents can be particularly stress-inducing.
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Dementia caregivers at a support group
04/11/2024

Arizona Woman Organizes Dementia Care Support Groups

Nicole Crothers is no stranger to dementia. In her nine years as a dementia educator and medical social worker at Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus, she has helped numerous patients, care partners, and families through one of the most emotionally and physically taxing journeys ever.
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Dr. Maribeth Gallagher, director HOV's Dementia Program visits with dementia patient Sue Crawford at Gardiner Home.
03/27/2024

An Unexpected Path

Maribeth Gallagher’s life took an unexpected turn that led her directly to a rewarding career, although it was an undeniably emotional and painful journey. She went from being a successful professional singer to a caregiver and then a program director in a span of a few years.
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Gillian Hamilton talking with patient
03/21/2024

Finding Beauty in the Present

Gillian Hamilton, M.D, Ph.D., has been fascinated with aging for as long as she has been in medicine. Gerontology, or the study of medicine in our aging population, is core to treating dementia.
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Pet therapy team Nancy Kelso and Coco Chanel visit patient Nancy Clark at the Dementia Care and Education Campus.
02/23/2024

Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Kelso and Coco Chanel

Nancy Kelso, a pet therapy volunteer, and her adorable Havanese, Coco Chanel, kick off our new volunteer and staff spotlight series. Kelso and Coco chatted about their background, their favorite memories from volunteering at the Dementia Care and Education Campus, and the importance of volunteerism.
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Two college students carrying a sign
02/01/2024

Don't wait to 'Choose Your Person'

National research shows that only about a third of Americans have created a living will or advance health care directive.
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Lin Sue Flood; Contexture CEO Melissa Kotrys; Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs; Mercy Care CEO Lorry Bottrill; and Hospice of the Valley executive director Debbie Shumway
10/16/2023

Mercy Care donates $670,000 to help launch Choose Your Person

Mercy Care, Hospice of the Valley and Contexture are collaborating on a community education campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of making and documenting advance healthcare decisions.
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Executives at event for Choose Your Person campaign
10/13/2023

‘Choose Your Person’ helps for end-of-life care

The Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry, which houses living wills, power of attorneys’ forms and medical care directives for pre-hospital and end of life care, has grown by about 22,000 accounts in the past two years.
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Partners that heal group
10/04/2023

Phoenix Theatre Group Delights People Living with Dementia

It’s a little magical how a small theater troupe can walk through the door and instantly transform the space around them. That’s exactly what five talented actors do so effortlessly as part of Phoenix Theatre’s Partners That Heal program.
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Dementia patient with child blowing bubbles
08/07/2023

Unique Dementia Program Enriches Young and Old

Welcome to a one-of-a-kind Intergenerational Enrichment Program, where people living with dementia enjoy activities, social engagement, and the excitement of interacting with young kids.
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aaha event guest in the art gallery
03/21/2023

Hospice of the Valley gala raises record funds for dementia care

The incredible generosity of the community was displayed in grand fashion at Hospice of the Valley’s annual art auction “Aaha! Art. Food. Wine,” where the nonprofit raised a record $650,000 to support innovative dementia care programs for families across the Valley.
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Young boy playing piano for dementia patients
01/31/2023

Piano Gift Hits High Note for People with Dementia

When Steve Harnden brought home a beautiful ebony baby grand, he envisioned his wife learning to play an instrument she had always loved. Monica was thrilled. The piano even had a “player piano” feature so it could play tunes by itself.
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Improv team
01/29/2023

Meaningful Connections and Conversations

On Jan. 29, we’re hosting a dementia communication presentation. We’ll show care partners how to employ skills used by improvisational actors to improve conversations with people living with dementia.
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First responders taking a class about dementia
01/17/2023

Simulation puts first responders in the shoes of people with dementia

It’s not easy to rattle a firefighter, but that’s exactly what Hospice of the Valley did to a roomful of first responders from the Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department who had signed up for a training exercise.
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Patient playing guitar for caretaker
12/05/2022

Dementia education comes to a doctor near you soon

It’s staggering to think that 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. You may even know a relative, friend or neighbor who has it.
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Gail and Feliciano reading a book
09/20/2022

How Arizona is managing rising number of Alzheimer’s and dementia cases

From a statistics standpoint, the trajectory of people in the U.S. at risk of Alzheimer’s disease is sobering. According to a 2022 report released by the Alzheimer’s Association, “By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s or dementia is projected to reach 12.7 million.”
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Dementia respite caregiver Sonja Marti pages through a dog book that interests Stephen Campbell.
05/19/2022

Memory Café connects Valley families on the dementia journey

When Tim Shaffer’s wife was diagnosed with dementia, both their lives changed. In the blink of an eye, he became her caregiver. Suddenly, Tim was the one responsible for keeping her safe and meeting her daily needs.
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Christiane and Muryl Cole hugging at a table
05/19/2022

$25 million Phoenix campus offers one-stop shop for dementia support

A $25 million campus created to serve a fast-growing population of Arizonans with various forms of dementia has partially opened on 3.2 acres in Phoenix.
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05/03/2022

Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus opens in Phoenix

As Mayor Kate Gallego addressed the crowd at the ribbon cutting on April 19 for Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus in Phoenix, she shared that she had a grandmother who had dementia.
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aaha event art gallery
03/21/2022

Hospice of the Valley auction nets over $500,000 for dementia care

Our community turned out in spectacular fashion to raise a record $514,000 for Hospice of the Valley’s innovative dementia care programs.
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Maribeth Gallagher giving a lecture to a room of people
02/14/2022

Caregivers empowered by 'Understanding Dementia'

When a loved one has an illness like dementia, it affects the entire family. Spouses and adult children often step into the role of caregiver, unprepared for the challenges ahead.
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Michelle Bales with patient and mechanical pet
01/26/2022

Campus Helps Our Community Live Well With Dementia

It’s astonishing to think that right this moment, there are 5.8 million Americans living with dementia. Arizona currently has the nation’s highest growth rate for the condition, with more than 200,000 cases predicted by 2025.
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ASU student with male dementia patient
01/16/2022

'It's going to touch all of us': What groups are doing to help people with dementia

Arizona is known for a warmer climate attractive to late-career workers and retirees, but experts believe it will soon also be known for having the largest population of people with dementia.
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Dementia Campus outside view
11/02/2021

Hospice of the Valley unveils Dementia Care and Education Campus

For over 40 years, Hospice of the Valley has served families of people with severe and chronic illnesses. The not-for-profit, community-based provider is now ready to expand with their brand-new campus in Arcadia, located at 44th St. and Indianola Ave.
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Christiane and Muryl Cole hugging at a table
10/20/2021

Sharing the Holidays with a Loved One with Dementia

The holidays can be both enjoyable and stressful. The hustle and bustle may cause fatigue and overstimulation in someone living with dementia, leading to confusion, anxiety or agitation.
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Caregiver talking to patient sitting in chair
07/28/2021

Caring for a loved one with Dementia

All of us are most likely affected by dementia—if not directly, then as a family caregiver or friend. It is now the fourth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. About half of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
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Eamon and Pat Treanor watching a virtual town of his hometown city.
03/14/2021

Valley Irishman makes virtual visit to boyhood home for St. Patrick’s Day

Alzheimer’s disease has robbed 82-year-old Brendan “Eamon” Treanor of day-to-day memories. Yet he can vividly recall his childhood in tiny Monaghan, Ireland, where he went to school, played soccer and lived on a street called St. Patrick’s Terrace.
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11/01/2020

Caring for A Loved One with Dementia? Hospice of the Valley Provides Free Support

Family caregivers often feel overwhelmed, anxious and isolated while they are caring for a person with dementia. They want to keep their loved one at home for as long as possible but wonder how to make it all work.
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Christiane and Muryl Cole holding hands
09/01/2020

HOV receives grant to provide free dementia support

Family caregivers often feel overwhelmed, anxious and isolated while they are caring for a person with dementia. They want to keep their loved one at home for as long as possible, but wonder how to make it all work.
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Caretaker kissing patients hand
08/19/2020

Hospice of the Valley earns prestigious Alzheimer's grant

Hospice of the Valley has been awarded a federal grant from the Administration for Community Living to serve more families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
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Lovin' Life magazine cover
06/01/2020

Mindful Care: Maribeth Gallagher has spent her career understanding dementia

Maribeth Gallagher has witnessed the power of music. As a longtime professional singer, Gallagher moved audiences with her voice, warming up crowds for the likes of Donna Summer, The Beach Boys, Huey Lewis and the News and Frankie Valli.
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Maribeth Gallagher listening to music with dementia patient
04/15/2020

Caregivers Can Live Well With Dementia Too!

It’s a staggering thought, but right this moment, there are 5.8 million Americans living with dementia. Arizona currently has 140,000 cases and we also have the nation’s highest growth rate for dementia. Experts forecast a 43% spike between 2017 and 2025.
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Birt’s Bistro staff takes part in “Dementia Moments” training
03/11/2020

Benevilla launches dementia training at bistro

Birt’s Bistro at Benevilla, 16752 N. Greasewood St., Surprise, is the restaurant chosen for the launch of the “Purple Table Project,” to bring awareness on being “dementia friendly” in public places in the local community.
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Seniors at Arcadia High School students taking a class
02/24/2020

AZ doctor uses virtual reality to simulate dementia

Virtual reality isn’t just for gamers anymore. Doctors who believe it has the potential to create different auditory and visual sensations emulating the sensory experience of those who deal with dementia are also using it.
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Dementia Campus Groundbreaking
01/25/2020

Hospice making history with dementia campus

On a shiny Friday afternoon in January, nearly 200 guests gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking of an innovative, one-of-a-kind campus at 3811 N. 44th St., in Phoenix’s Arcadia area.
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Dementia Campus
01/13/2020

Hospice of the Valley to break ground on innovative dementia campus

We embark on a new decade celebrating a huge milestone in our efforts to help families live well with dementia, a disease expected to affect 200,000 Arizonans within just five years.
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Dementia Campus
12/12/2019

Hospice group to embark on $25M Phoenix campus

Hospice of the Valley is making plans to build a dementia care and education campus in east Phoenix.
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Students taking class with Gill Hamilton
12/10/2019

Valley doctor uses virtual reality to teach kids about dementia, Alzheimer's

Hamilton is giving students at Metro Tech High School a crash course in dementia. "You can't really care about somebody unless you understand what it's like to be them," said Hamilton.
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Students taking a class
12/03/2019

Arizona Dementia Doctor Uses Virtual Reality To Help Teach Empathy To Students

Is it possible to teach empathy? That’s what one Arizona doctor is trying to do using virtual reality. The experience aims to help younger people understand what it’s like to have dementia — and encourage them to pursue careers in the aging and dementia fields.
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Hospice of the Valley Medical Director Gill Hamilton discusses the Dementia Moments experience with HOV care teams.
10/26/2019

Simulation shows what it’s like to have dementia

Imagine not remembering where you live. Forgetting your name. Not recognizing your own family members. That’s what it’s like to live with dementia.
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Volunteer Andrew Gaines (left) and social worker Michelle Bales visit with patient Walter “Wally” Brown and his mechanical cat.
07/19/2019

Phoenix Stories 2019: Hospice of the Valley — The magic of love

Walter Brown cracks jokes, pets his ‘cat’ Sweetheart, watches Westerns with his buddy, and reminisces about his service in World War II.
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Fire truck
06/17/2019

Phoenix Fire, mayor making dementia training a priority

During her first State of the City address, Mayor Kate Gallego announced the fire department is on its way to making Phoenix a dementia-friendly city.
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Firefighters helping homeless person
05/15/2019

Dementia Training For Phoenix First Responders Comes To Life

A year ago, Hospice of the Valley invited a group of 15 people to participate in a fellowship program in which they came up with ideas that could improve care for people living with dementia. One of those fellows was a Phoenix Fire Department captain.
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04/16/2019

Innovation in Arizona

Caring for a loved one with advanced chronic illness is challenging. So is looking after a family member who’s been diagnosed with dementia. Caregiving is an around-the-clock job, and those who do it often have little or no training before it’s thrust upon them.
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Gerald and Linda Wood
03/02/2019

Dementia can’t dim love story 54 years in making

Gerald calls it her “million-dollar smile” because of the beautiful way it lights up her face and the tingly way it makes him feel. He fell in love with the smile and the girl and married both.
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Patient with mechanical cat
08/02/2018

Fake pets give real love to dementia patients

“A lot of times dementia patients will be very stoic and quiet and kind of lost in their own little world, but you bring one of these mechanical pets and put it in front of them, put it in their lap and it starts moving, maybe it’s meowing or purring, and they just come alive,” explained Lin Sue Cooney, director of community engagement at Hospice of the Valley.
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Donna Winston cuddles with her mechanical cat.
07/21/2018

The pets may be fake, but the joy they bring to dementia patients is real

To experience the love of a pet is to know unconditional love. They don’t judge, play mind games or hold a grudge. Your dog is as happy to see you today, as he was yesterday. Your cat purrs contentedly every time she commandeers your lap.
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Gillian Hamilton talking with patient
02/07/2018

Hospice of the Valley Plans Dementia Care Campus

Hospice of the Valley plans to establish a Dementia Care and Education Campus in east Phoenix at the former site of the Scottsdale Unified School District Office.
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Dementia Campus
01/14/2018

Hospice of the Valley To Build New Dementia Care and Education Campus

Dementia is one of the leading causes of death in Arizona, and Hospice of the Valley is planning a new Dementia Care and Education Campus.
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Gillian Hamilton
10/20/2017

Program brings youthful energy to the field of dementia care

One of the most wonderful experiences of my career happened this fall, as I was brainstorming with two colleagues. It was a passionate discussion about inspiring the next generation of young people to care about people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.
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Dementia care educator Gail Higgenbotham connects with patient Tomasa.
08/26/2017

Lin Sue Cooney: Soothing the heartbreak of dementia

For the past year, I've witnessed two dear friends struggle with the same heavy burden.
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A caretaker helps Alzheimer’s patients
03/30/2017

Hospice of the Valley and ASU team up to offer new class

In an effort to get more students involved with caretaking for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, ASU and Hospice of the Valley have partnered to form a new class through the College of Health Solutions.
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