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Dementia Training Comes to Homer September 21–22

Published on September 7, 2026

South Peninsula Hospital, Hospice of Homer, and Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska are partnering to bring two days of free dementia and older-adult mental health education to Homer September 21–22, made possible through the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project. Designed for caregivers, families, professionals, direct-care staff, and anyone in the community who wants to better understand and support older adults, these trainings offer practical tools, hands-on experiences, and greater confidence in navigating dementia, mental health, communication, caregiving, and memory concerns. With opportunities to experience what living with dementia can feel like through Dementia Live, participate in individual memory screenings, learn how to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, and build practical dementia care skills, there is something for everyone. 

All are welcome, and these trainings are free to participants thanks to the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project.

September 21 @ 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults is designed to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems experienced by adults over 65.

We know direct care staff as well as spouses, partners or other family members do the majority of caregiving for older adults. As a caregiver, the training can help in the recognition of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or gestures, as well as the role that substance abuse plays in the mental health of a loved one.

This course aims to improve our understanding of various disorders and provide an action plan to teach us to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder while distinguishing these signs from typical aging.

Registration fees for these trainings have been covered by the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project. 

Questions about this training? Please contact Jill Ramsey at jdramsey2@alaska.edu.

Register today at this link!

September 21 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Experience what it may be like to live with dementia through Dementia Live, an interactive group experience designed to build understanding, empathy, and practical communication skills. Individual memory screening consultations will also be available, offering participants an opportunity to learn more about their memory concerns and connect with helpful resources.

Registration required for a 30-minute slot at the SPH Training Center at 4014 Lake Street, Homer.

Contact Holly Dramis at director@hospiceofhomer.org or (907) 235-6899 to sign up or for more information.

  • Dementia Care Skills

September 22 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

This workshop introduces participants to dementia; how it affects the brain, sensory system and visual range. Participants will discuss normal vs not normal aging traits.

Participants will learn & practice Positive Physical Approach® interaction skills to navigate challenging behaviors, role play common caregiving situations and utilize their physical skills, including ways to ‘activate’ their care partner.

Registration fees for these trainings have been covered by the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project. Questions about this training? Please contact Riki Chapman at racook@alaska.edu.

Register today at this link!

News & Updates

  • Dementia Training Comes to Homer September 21–22

    South Peninsula Hospital, Hospice of Homer, and Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska are partnering to bring two days of free dementia and older-adult mental health education to Homer September 21–22, made possible through the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project. Designed for caregivers, families, professionals, direct-care staff, and anyone in the community who wants to better understand and support older adults, these trainings offer practical tools, hands-on experiences, and greater confidence in navigating dementia, mental health, communication, caregiving, and memory concerns. With opportunities to experience what living with dementia can feel like through Dementia Live, participate in individual memory screenings, learn how to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, and build practical dementia care skills, there is something for everyone. 

    All are welcome, and these trainings are free to participants thanks to the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project.

  • Senior Wellness Day Returns September 17

    This year’s Senior Wellness Day will take place at Kachemak Bay Campus on Thursday, September 17 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Hosted by South Peninsula Hospital in partnership with Hospice of Homer, Independent Living Center (ILC), Public Health, Homer Senior Center, and the Center for Safe Alaskans, this program will focus on healthy aging, connection, and practical wellness tools.

  • Appointments for Low-Cost Blood Tests Open September 1

    Appointments for the 43rd annual Rotary Health Fair’s greatly discounted blood tests open September 1 on RotaryHealthFair.com. This year, all appointments will be scheduled for the day of the Rotary Health Fair on October 10 at Homer High School.

  • New ENT Practice Opens with Homer and Kenai Locations

    South Peninsula Hospital announces the grand opening of South Peninsula Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic, which offers comprehensive ear, nose, and throat care in two peninsula locations, Homer and Kenai. 

    The new South Peninsula Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) providers include James Zirul, DO, Fredrick Freeman, MD and Teresa Thompson, DNP.  These three providers are joining South Peninsula Hospital full-time to bring collaborative, local ENT care to the entire Kenai Peninsula. Dr. Freeman will be practicing primarily in the Homer clinic, Dr. Zirul in the Kenai clinic; and Teresa Thompson, DNP will see patients in both locations.

  • Farewell Celebration on July 23 for Dr. Brent Adcox, Local Orthopedic Surgeon

    South Peninsula Hospital invites the community to join us in celebrating Dr. Brent Adcox’s 15 years at South Peninsula Orthopedics and wish him farewell before he returns to the Lower 48. The celebration will be at Homer Seaplane Base (1310 Lake Shore Drive) from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 23rd.

  • South Peninsula Hospital Celebrates 70th Anniversary with Community Party

    South Peninsula Hospital is turning 70 in July, and to celebrate, we’re hosting a celebration for the public at the SPH campus from 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Thursdaym, July 2. Community members and visitors are welcome to enjoy a free picnic dinner, listen to live music, take a tour of the hospital, browse the SPH “hall of history,” and check out some visiting emergency vehicles.

  • The 10K Spit Run & Cosmic Hamlet Half Marathon Returns June 27

    The 50th annual Annual Homer Spit Run, which consists of the 10k to the Bay, Cosmic Hamlet Half
    Marathon, and the 1 Mile Youth (Kids and Family) Run, will be held on Saturday, June 27th.
    Registration is open online for both timed races at KachemakBayRunningClub.org, and these races
    benefit local youth running programs.

  • SPH Urgent Care Now Open for Walk-In Care

    South Peninsula Hospital is expanding access to same-day care with the opening of a walk-in Urgent Care clinic on June 1. Located at 4201 Bartlett Street, in the same building as the Family Care Clinic, Urgent Care will be open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. No appointments are necessary, and patients will have access to on-site labs and X-rays. Urgent Care will be staffed by Carrie Warren, FNP-C, who is moving from the Family Care team, and Kara Zimmerman, PA-C, who recently moved to Homer.

  • Invitation to Bid

    South Peninsula Hospital seeks a qualified contractor for development of a gravel parking lot at 4135 Hohe St., Homer, AK. Work includes site prep, grading, drainage, and compacted gravel installation. The complete RFP can be found here or by request.  

  • End of Life Decision Making - recording now available

    Thank you to the many community members who attended our free educational presentation, “End of Life Decision Making,” this spring! This event was originally scheduled for Fall 2025, and we appreciate everyone’s flexibility with the rescheduling. We were honored to have Homer Medical Center’s Dr. Giulia Tortora, local estate planning attorney Lindsay Wolter, and Hospice of Homer death doula Morgan Laffert lead this important conversation. Together, they covered key aspects of end-of-life planning, including living wills, medical power of attorney, legal and medical decision-making, and emotional considerations.

  • Registration Now Open for Walking Challenge

    Registration for the 10th annual Homer Steps Up community walking challenge (May 4 -31) opens April 15 on HomerStepsUp.com. Coordinated by South Peninsula Hospital, with support from numerous partnering agencies, the yearly challenge is designed to motivate the community to engage in more movement to help improve overall health as well as provide a fun, interactive community event as Homer transitions into summer.

  • Welcome First Baby of 2026

    Baby girl River Marie Burdick was born on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 3:55pm at South Peninsula Hospital, earning her the bragging rights of first baby delivered there in 2026. River weighed six pounds, 10 ounces, and was 19.5 inches in length. She is the first child of Amanda and Aaron Burdick of Homer, Alaska.

  • SPH Submits Letters of Interest to Rural Health Transformation Program

    South Peninsula Hospital recently submitted Letters of Interest to the State of Alaska Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal grant program to improve health care in rural areas across all fifty states. These letters are the first round of submissions, and are some of nearly 1,800 which were submitted from locations across Alaska. We expect to learn sometime in April, 2026 if any of our submittals are invited to complete full applications.

  • SPH welcomes two new board members

    South Peninsula Hospital Board of Directors appointed two new members to the board and elected new officers at their December, 2025 board meeting. Jim Anderson and Ken Ciccoli, both of Homer, are newly appointed to three-year terms.