PHOENIX, Ariz. — When a parent needs help getting out of bed, a spouse has difficulty getting around the house, or a loved one needs more assistance with everyday activities, family members often become caregivers overnight.
For Phoenix-area families navigating those challenges, GateWay Community College is offering a hands-on Family Caregiver Workshop designed to help caregivers feel safer, more confident and better prepared to provide care at home through the Safe Patient Handling Education (SaPHE) Lab, the only community college-based lab of its kind in the Southwest.
The workshop will take place Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at GateWay Community College, 555 N. 18th Street in Phoenix. Registration is $45.
This interactive session is for family members and other caregivers who want practical tools they can use in their everyday lives, not just information to take home and read.
Participants will learn how to:
- Help a loved one move and transfer more safely.
- Use proper body mechanics to reduce their own risk of pain and injury.
- Support a loved one’s mobility while preserving dignity and independence.
- Approach common caregiving tasks with greater confidence.
- Practice techniques with patient-handling equipment in a hands-on clinical lab setting.
For many families, caregiving is deeply personal. It can also be physically demanding and overwhelming. Learning how to safely assist a loved one can make everyday tasks, like helping someone stand or sit, more manageable for both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
“You don't have to figure it all out on your own,” said Heather Murray, SaPHE Lab Program Manager The workshop offers area caregivers an opportunity to learn from healthcare professionals, practice techniques and connect with skills that can make a difference at home.
Whether you are already providing hands-on care or preparing for a loved one’s changing needs, local residents are encouraged to register and make time for their own caregiving education. Register at https://www.purplepass.com/events/382579-family-caregiver-workshop-nov-7th-2026.
Learn more about the SaPHE Lab at https://www.gatewaycc.edu/community/saphe-lab.