Last year, the Idyllwild Community Presbyterian Church sponsored four informative and well-attended seminars dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Starting on July 18, the series has been expanded to six sessions and will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 22. The programs are held at the church located at 54400 North Circle Drive in Idyllwild and are free and open to the public.

The first session dealt with “Neurobiology of Dementia,” facilitated by Shannon Easton who has degrees in human development and counseling ministries with professional experience in senior care. Her slide presentation showed what actually happens to the brain with the onset of dementia.

According to Jane Farmer, co-facilitator, the five remaining topics will cover communication in dementia, family dynamics, living with dementia, the emotional roller coaster and care for the caregiver.

Farmer knows first hand what it’s like to be a caregiver. She became acutely aware when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2000, and she became her primary caregiver. Jane went on to be trained in memory care and is passionate about helping others through the journey of memory loss.

The seminar provides knowledge and information about Alzheimer’s and related forms of dementia that are crucial for caregivers and important for the population.