Chances are, we all know or have encountered someone with dementia. Whether it's a family member or a random stranger in the grocery store, knowing how to interact with someone with dementia and learning more about the disease can benefit everyone.

Donna Wilkie, a certified dementia practitioner at Hospice & Community Care, will present "What Do I Need to Know About Dementia?" at Zion Lutheran Church, 2 Hazel St., Manheim, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The presentation will address different types of dementia, teach ways to effectively communicate with a person living with dementia and offer ideas for other "dementia friendly" actions.

"The program will cover five key messages to understanding better what people living with dementia are going through," Wilkie said. "We want people who come to the program to be able to react better when they come across people who have dementia."

One of the biggest messages Wilkie hopes people will take away from the program is that dementia is not a natural consequence of aging.

"We'll talk about what's normal aging and what's not normal aging," she said. "Losing your keys or forgetting why you came into a room are signs of aging, not necessarily anything more."

She also hopes participants will begin to view dementia for what it is - brain failure - and help make that concept as mainstream in everyday conversations as kidney or liver failure.

Wilkie understands firsthand what it's like to care for a person with dementia.

"My mom died from Lewy body dementia in 2016," she said. "I came to work at Hospice in 2019. I got involved with their dementia resource team. It's a passion for me. I wish I had the education that I now have when I was trying to help my mom. It's really important that people get that education to help their loved ones."

The presentation at Zion Lutheran is part of Dementia Friends, an organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people with dementia.

"Zion is committed to join a growing movement to create 'dementia-friendly' communities," said pastor Kate Warn. She noted that the program is part of a series of informational sessions for the Manheim community related to the idea of "aging with grace."

The program will be interactive, Wilkie said, with opportunities for questions from the audience and hands-on activities.

And above all, it will present dementia as more than a devastating diagnosis, she said, adding, "We're focused on trying to remember all the things a person with dementia can do, rather than the things they can't do."

She wants participants to leave with a better understanding of people living with dementia.

"You could have a family member with dementia, or you could just encounter a person living with dementia who you come across in the community," she said. "We want everyone to be able to react in better ways when this happens and know what to do."

Advance registration for the program is not required but is helpful for planning purposes. For more information or to register, call 717-665-5880.