Deborah Seelhoff
Deborah Seelhoff is a passionate advocate and educator in the field of dementia care, serving as the founder and owner of Dementia Forward LLC in Waterford, Michigan. With a background as a Certified Dementia Practitioner, she focuses on training care partners, educating families, and bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and practical, relationship-centered care. Through her work, she emphasizes the importance of understanding the person behind the diagnosis and creating moments of joy, purpose, and dignity for those living with dementia.
Her professional journey includes managing a small memory-care group home, where she observed firsthand the gaps in caregiver training and family support. Recognizing the critical need for education in dementia care, Deborah founded Dementia Forward to provide hands-on training, family education programs, and personalized consultations. Her approach shifts the focus from task-based care to relationship-first care, empowering caregivers and families to respond empathetically and effectively to the needs of individuals living with dementia.
Deborah also extends her impact through partnerships with organizations such as Right at Home, where she serves as a dementia educator contractor, providing in-person and video training across Michigan. Certified as an End-of-Life Doula, she works closely with families and hospice teams to ensure compassionate care during life’s final stages. Through her dedication, advocacy, and educational initiatives, Deborah continues to transform dementia care, equipping caregivers and families with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to navigate this challenging journey.
• Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
• Positive Approach to Care (PAC) Certified Independent Trainer
• Certified End of Life Doula
• The Ohio State University- B.F.A.
• Right at Home
What do you attribute your success to?
I think people learn in three ways: by seeing it, hearing it, and doing it. A lot of places do training where they just watch videos every couple months, and some training is better than none, but I can't save the whole world. For me, when I go in there and I talk to them and I train them, whether it's in person or not, I show them exactly what it feels like and what it looks like. When caregivers learn tools like positive approach and hand under hand, they're like 'oh.' I empower them by telling them I have the most respect for what they do. I tell them you're going to create a relationship, your job's going to be better, your person's going to be better. Who doesn't want to have that at your job? Right now, you're fighting against people, trying to get them to make them do something they don't want to do. I teach them to stop being task-focused and become person-focused. We're taking away people's autonomy, and where's the empathy for that? It's not a task. When you care for someone, you can't be task-focused. I do presentations where I get in someone's personal space and they don't like it, and I'm like, so how would you feel if that was your mom? Now you know what that feels like. I make them experience it so they understand. And I tell families, you're doing everything right because you don't know, but now you know better.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in dementia care today are a fragmented system where many memory-care staff and first responders lack essential dementia training, caregiver pay is low, turnover is high, and families often struggle to understand the condition. The greatest opportunities lie in expanding accessible, practical training—including video-based programs—advocating for mandatory dementia education, and transforming care models to be relationship- and purpose-driven, ensuring dignity and meaningful engagement for those living with dementia.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both work and life are empathy, dignity, and person-centered care, always prioritizing relationships, honoring autonomy, and helping people living with dementia maintain purpose and meaning in their daily lives.