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      • End-of-Life Conversations
      • Therapy Dog Visits
    • Contact
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Families with dementia

Valerie's audiences describe her as "warm and personable" and her presentations as "informative, interesting and articulate."

About Valerie

Her professional work is personal.

 Valerie has always had a personal and professional interest in improving and maintaining quality of life for those with chronic medical conditions, but a personal family journey has inspired her passion to help others manage life transitions through aging and progressive dementia.


Valerie became interested in dementia after her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and she became the primary person directing his care.  She has educated herself about dementia, senior transitions, and end-of-life through formal study,  professional forums, and her personal experiences.  She has faced the progression of Alzheimer's through end-of-life with her father and father-in-law, and was one of the family caregivers for her mother-in-law, who lived for several years with results from a major stroke. 


Valerie's approach is based on the belief that individuals may have the same disease but they have different journeys because of their backgrounds and life experiences.  Care decisions are very individual.  Information is vital to help families prepare for, and cope with, the progression of a chronic condition and enable them to provide the best quality of life for the caregiver and their loved one.   Valerie is committed to motivating and empowering people to live well through education and coaching.

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Background & Expertise

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Bio

Collaborations

Credentials

  • Health Educator
  • Coach & Motivator
  • Public Speaker
  • Facilitator & Mediator
  • Independent Consultant
  • Therapy Dog Handler

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Credentials

Collaborations

Credentials

  • Elder Law & Chronic Care certificate, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
  • Dementia: A Comprehensive Update, 2016, CE, Harvard Medical School
  • Advance Care Planning (ACP) Certified Facilitator, Respecting Choices®; ACP course, CDC
  • Recognition: 2019 Emerging Leader in Public Health, Washington County, MN
  • Master of Business Administration & BA in Psyc

  • Elder Law & Chronic Care certificate, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
  • Dementia: A Comprehensive Update, 2016, CE, Harvard Medical School
  • Advance Care Planning (ACP) Certified Facilitator, Respecting Choices®; ACP course, CDC
  • Recognition: 2019 Emerging Leader in Public Health, Washington County, MN
  • Master of Business Administration & BA in Psychology
  • CARES® Training with essentiALZ
  • Registered Therapy Dog Team

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Collaborations

Collaborations

Collaborations

  • Honoring Choices Ambassador
  •  ACT on Alzheimer's contributor
  • Alzheimer's Association Volunteer
  • Walk to End Alzheimer's Champion
  • LGBT Aging Resource, Training to Serve 
  • Discussion leader: His Neighbor Phil
  • Participant with The Remember Project
  • Woodbury Thrives contributor
  • Graceful Journey speaker, MN Council of Church

Take Care & Be Well!

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P.O. Box 164, Lakeland, MN 55043

(651) 210-7866

Copyright © 2019 Families With Dementia - All Rights Reserved.