Dementia Educator
Staff Training
Consultation

Education is key and knowledge is power to empower.

FAMILY DEMENTIA EDUCATION PRESENTATION

Get ready to care with confidence! At Dementia Forward, we know that education is crucial when we are faced with the diagnosis of Dementia. Our Free Family Education Series is a 1 hour presentation designed to answer : WHAT IS DEMENTIA? HOW DOES BRAIN CHANGE AFFECT MY LOVED ONE? HOW TO BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS? Remember, you aren’t alone—together, we can make a difference!

ASSESSMENT

Assessing a person living with dementia is a crucial step in understanding their unique needs, challenges and abilities. This tailored approach not only enhances the quality of care but also promotes dignity and independence for individuals living with dementia. Let’s work together to ensure that every person receives the compassionate, personalized support they deserve.

FAMILY CONSULTATION

The opportunity to gain insight into what is dementia, assessing where your loved one is in the journey and how to support them. Together we will explore the unique challenges and create a roadmap for moving forward.

CARE PARTNER DEMENTIA TRAINING

Caring for People Living with Dementia requires specific training to support the person along their Dementia journey. We want to allow the person opportunities to make choices, have a purpose, experience moments of joy and to thrive no matter where they are in the process. Dementia care is very specific based on: Vision Changes, Hearing Changes, Positive Physical Approach, and Person Centered Care

Deborah Seelhoff
As a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Positive Approach to Care Certified Independent Trainer, I have a passion for changing the culture of Dementia Care by empowering families.  

More often than not, when a family member is experiencing brain change related to dementia, the relationship changes. 

Most family members have little or no education about the process and I’ve seen uneducated families reduce visits or stop them altogether as the disease progresses and their person continues to change. 

In my 10 years of experience I have seen the need to close the gap between those we care about who are living with Dementia and their family members. There are so many opportunities to create moments of joy.


Dementia is not a disease but
a group of symptoms affecting the ability to think, behavior, completing everyday tasks and reason.

Though you may have difficulties remembering things on occasion,
these are not signs you have dementia. 
You may not remember things as quickly as you used to!
This is Normal Aging.
DEMENTIA is an umbrella term that describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain.
Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Frontal Temporal and Lewy Body are all types of Dementia

There's no single test to determine what type of dementia someone has
Most often we notice:
-characteristic changes in thinking
-behavior
-day-to-day function
It can be difficult to determine the exact type because symptoms and brain changes of
different dementias can overlap.

We support our person based on their individual capabilities and needs.
With Dementia (Brain Failure) people tend to “live in the moment”. 
Your mom may not know your name but she does know your voice, your energy and the familiar conversation.
Educating ourselves on how the person changes gives us the tools to support them and build a better relationship for everyone.
  • Waterford Township, MI, USA

Feel free to contact me to schedule a Free Phone Consultation! This will best assess how to move forward.


07Mar

What can you learn in 500 steps?

In 2018 I spent 6 weeks walking the Camino de Santiago (500 miles) and it was a life changing experience.  This journey fostered emotional connections with people from all over the world, a therapeutic journey living in the moment, and so much more.

 The Camino is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. For centuries, it has drawn millions of pilgrims, each walking for their own reasons—spiritual, physical, or emotional healing.  The purpose of my journey was not just the physical challenge but an opportunity to mend my broken heart, feel emotionally free and share this experience with my love.  To be out of my comfort zone, feel free in nature, and be open to whatever gifts the day would present. 

The gentle crunch of gravel underfoot seemed louder than usual in the peaceful silence of the early morning. Each morning as I began my walk on a segment of the Camino it was as if seeing the world with new eyes.  The natural beauty of the route, with its rolling hills and the endless sky.  Passing other pilgrims  saying "Buen Camino", a Spanish phrase that means "good path" or "good road".  Seeing friends that became my Camino Family, finding the perfect cup of espresso in a small café in the woods, stopping to admire the beauty of a 12th Century bridge or a 13th Century Church, someone selling fresh fruit alongside the road, stopping to pet a wild horse  in the mist of the Pyrenees, and sitting quietly beneath sprawling trees on a sunny Sunday hearing church bells from the next city. It wasn't just the  physical act of walking every day, but that I was weaving my steps along the paths trodden by so many others before me.

 But the Camino presented unique challenges. There were moments of frustration, confusion, and fatigue—sore  blistered feet, aches and pain,  exhaustion, or finding yourself at the end of the day with nowhere to stay.  There were steep climbs and dangerous ascents, gravel, mud, and rain.  But it somehow worked itself out either by sheer courage or the help of a fellow pilgrim. However solved, it felt like a great accomplishment and I was proud to of had that opportunity. It empowered me. 

Along the path, I marveled at the architectural splendors of ancient churches and the serene beauty of the Spanish countryside.   Appreciating little things that I otherwise may over look: a beautiful large tree in the morning mist, a field of yellow canna shining in the Rioja afternoon sun, or a smooth running river under the bridge in Puente la Renia.   

Reaching the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was an emotional climax. Standing before the imposing façade, amongst a crowd of other pilgrims, you feel a profound connection not only to your Camino-self but to the thousands of souls who had traversed the same path, each carrying their own burdens and hopes.  In this sacred space, it wasn’t about ending a journey but celebrating the experience and always moving forward. 

The lessons learned on the Camino went beyond what I had hoped. It reinforced the power of love and patience, the ability to face situations that took me out of my comfort zone and the importance of making every moment count. 

This transfers into my passion for People Living with Dementia.  Understanding that every situation creates a different challenge and opportunity.  It us up to us how we take on that challenge and use that opportunity going forward. 

So let’s  embrace our connections, live in the moment, be open and face those situations that take us out of our comfort zone.  Putting a priority to be open, educate ourselves and continue to share experiences with our loved ones.  No matter where our person is in their journey we can walk WITH them, LOVE  each moment with them, and keep moving FORWARD.

"Dementia Forward is a program specifically designed to educate communities, family members and care partners in order to give the best care and support to People Living with Dementia"

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