Dementia Educator
Staff Training   Family Support

Education is key, 
and knowledge is the power to empower.

Deborah Seelhoff
Deborah Seelhoff is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Positive Approach to Care Certified Independent Trainer with more than 11 years of experience in dementia care education and support.

 She is dedicated to transforming the culture of dementia care by empowering families and training care partners in assisted living and memory care communities. Deborah’s work emphasizes the importance of uniting people living with dementia, their families, and care partners. 

She believes that while dementia training is often not required, it is essential for providing high-quality, compassionate care and equipping care partners with the skills they need to succeed. Her passion is helping families navigate every stage of dementia with greater understanding, patience, and compassion. 

Through education and support, Deborah encourages families to stay connected, create meaningful moments, and discover opportunities for joy throughout the dementia journey.


Services

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

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 Dementia Education Presentation is a 90-minute session designed to answer the question: What is dementia? How does the brain change affect my loved one? How to build a new relationship? This is ideal for care communities, businesses, churches, and libraries, offering the community an opportunity to learn about dementia. Remember, you aren’t alone—together, we can make a difference!

CARE PARTNER TRAINING

Providing care for people living with dementia requires specialized training to support them throughout their journey effectively. We want to give people opportunities to make choices, find purpose, experience joy, and thrive regardless of their stage. To understand that it is both a physical and a chemical change. Vision Changes, Hearing Changes, Positive Physical Approach, and Person Centered Care This is a 3-part Dementia Education Series created especially for care partners. Whether you're involved in memory care, assisted living, wound care, providing in-home care, or planning placement, this series distinguishes your business by showing that you have care partners with dementia training.

STRONGER TOGETHER - WHOLE FAMILY EDUCATION

When a family member faces dementia, the relationship changes. It is important to understand exactly what dementia means for your loved one and how to support them moving forward. This process begins with a phone consultation to gain a deeper understanding of the changes and challenges affecting your family member. Afterwards, we schedule an in-home visit and education session. This provides an opportunity to meet your loved one living with dementia and other family members. It helps me understand the dynamics of the situation and the specific needs involved. This educational presentation aims to explain what dementia is, the physical and chemical changes it causes, how to build a new relationship, and how to support one another. Together, we will explore the unique challenges and develop a plan for moving forward. This resource is designed for family members and caregivers.

LEARNING TOGETHER: FAMILIES ON THE DEMENTIA JOURNEY

Education and support for families caring for loved ones with dementia. Often, visiting a loved one with dementia might not always be suitable. Family members still have the opportunity to learn about dementia through an educational presentation that includes hands-on learning and offers practical solutions for challenging situations tailored to their specific circumstances. This involves brainstorming to identify the particular needs, interests, activities, and schedule that will best support both the loved one and the entire family. This can be done in person or, if family members are far apart, a ZOOM meeting works too.

NEW CLIENT QUESTIONNAIRE
I invite you to complete the Client Questionnaire for Dementia Forward. This provides me with some basic information about your situation, allowing me to offer the best support possible moving forward. Please be sure to include your contact information. Contact me if you have any questions:

deb@dementiaforward.com

248-330-7557

*MORE: Click on New Client Questionnaire*

F.A.Q

Dementia is an umbrella term for
a group of symptoms affecting the ability to think, behave, complete 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 might not recognize your name, but she does recognize your voice, your energy, and the familiar conversation. Learning how the person changes helps us support them and build a better relationship for everyone.

Testimonials

 Deborah, thank you so much for visiting our home and taking the time to educate my family about dementia. This is a new journey for all of us, and we feel a little anxious because of the uncertainty about the future. 

JS

 I wish I had been able to find something like what you’re doing when my wife was first diagnosed. It would have helped greatly. You are doing a very good thing 

B.P.

 I cannot imagine the challenge that so many people face while living and loving someone with dementia. It’s hard to see the person you knew change. I only see my friend for a small amount of time, and I am often frustrated and sad. But... I wanted you to know that your information and attitude make a tremendous difference in my interactions with her. I saw her yesterday, and it was the most comfortable afternoon with her I have had in a long time. Just wanted to say Thank you 

JW

 I learned the importance of the relationship above anything else. That puts a whole new perspective on things. Deborah gave priceless information to help us along our journey with my mother-in-law. 

AB

 Her experience changed both of our lives. She is very dedicated to helping families learn all they can to support their loved ones on this journey. It’s scary and rarely talked about, so many don’t even know where or how to start. Deborah is trained to do just that and to support you along the way. Don’t wait until the situation gets out of control; seek her guidance and assistance. She’s there for you. Blessings. 

D.M.

 Practical advice I need to understand my person living with dementia. 

GSK

 I scheduled a Zoom meeting with Deborah for my family. Not everyone in my family is local so in order to be "together" the Zoom meeting was a great option. Deborah made her Family Dementia Education Presentation which was informative and helpful as we are navigating our sweet brother's Dementia journey and learning so much along the way... Deborah shared good information, a power point, and also included a Q & A session at the close of our meeting. She helped to educate us all and made us feel more empowered as caregivers. We all felt a little stronger, wiser and unified by the end of our time with Deborah. The time we took to ask Deborah questions, share our stories along with some of our fears and challenges was invaluable. We now consider Deborah a part of our support team and we are grateful. We look forward to Deborah meeting our brother in the near future at the memory care facility he now resides in. We believe this partnership will enhance the quality of his care as we all work towards providing him with dignity and all the love he deserves. Thank you Deborah. 

Julie Flynn and family

 I learned how to make stronger and more meaningful connections with my dad. And a better understanding of how to communicate and support him. 

JA
  

Contact

  • Waterford Township, MI, USA

Click on my email to contact me directly. Feel free to contact me to schedule a Free Phone Consultation! This will best assess how to move forward.


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Events

Journeys Together
21Mar

Journeys Together

  •  03/21/2026 02:28 PM - 03/21/2026 02:28 PM
  •   1002 North Main Street, Rochester, MI, USA

If you or a family member is supporting a person living with dementia and you are lost, this is for you. Education and support to help you navigate this journey with love and compassion.

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Lunch & Learn
31Mar

Lunch & Learn

  •  03/31/2026 02:31 PM - 03/31/2026 02:31 PM
  •   13632 Pagels Drive, Grand Blanc, MI, USA

This Free lunch is to give care partners and family members basic dementia education and learn how you can support your person living with dementia with confidence and love.

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Articles

Breaking Barriers in Dementia Care

"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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