Quick Look at the Dementia Letters Project

Through the Dementia Letters Project, Kate provides the following services.

Educator

  • 8-Hour Dementia Training*
    • Module 1 – Understanding Dementia
    • Module 2 – Communication/”Behaviors”
    • Module 3 – Engagement and Person Directed Care
    • Module 4 -Palliative Care and Pastoral Support
    • Module 5 – Care for the Care Team
    • Module 6 – Family Support
  • 4-Hour Dementia Training
    • Module 1 – Understanding Dementia
    • Module 2 – Communication
    • Module 3 – Person-Directed Care
    • Module 4 – Care Team Development
  • 2-Hour Life Enrichment Training
    • Module 1 – Skills and Interest Development
    • Module 2 – Implementing and Sustaining Programs
  • 1-Hour Family and Community Training
  • Connect + Create Institute

Artist

  • Memory Cafés
    • Specializing in Cafés located within Faith Communities.
  • Arts Access
    • Trained in the Meet Me at MoMA method and working in both the visual and performing arts.
  • Educational Theatre
Start the Conversation

Working with…

  • Skilled Care and Memory Care Communities
  • Assisted Living
  • In-Home Care
  • Cultural and Arts Centers
  • Churches
  • University Nursing, Arts, and Creative Arts Therapy Programs

Educator + Artist Seeking to Help You Live Fully Alive With Dementia

Kate is available to provide the services you see above as well as speak at your event both large and small. If you have any questions or want to learn to explore more details feel free to browse this website and reach out to Kate for a conversation.

Email Kate

The journey to now.

I started working with individuals living with dementia as a middle school student in 2000. Over the last 26 years I have learned a lot, experienced both the family and professional side of eldercare, and continue to root my work in relationship and not tasks or job descriptions.

I take my work seriously, as seriously as I take play, beauty, and joy. My first duty as an educator and artist working in dementia care is to magnify the dignity of every human life, especially those living with dementia from suspected diagnosis to final breath.

Headshot 2

I started volunteering at a local Memory Care and discovered my ability to connect with those in all stages of cognitive decline. I knew I wanted to spend my life serving those living with dementia, but I didn’t see a career path quite yet. In 2005, my grandmother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and overnight a volunteer path turned personal.

As a Creative Arts Therapy student, I continued my work with dementia in a professional capacity and discovered my joy of working with veterans.

Working at various care communities from Assisted Living to Skilled Care I took my knowledge out of the textbook and into real life.

In 2012, I started working with various arts access programs throughout New York City. And in 2015, I started working in Memory Cafés and exploring both through research and practice what it means to apply the arts and creativity to the dementia journey. During this time I started speaking on both small and large stages and discovered I had a knack for education.

In 2015, I started the Dementia Letters Project and The Hem of Christ after discovering a love of teaching and spotted a need for something new and different in elder care. Over the years I have moved between educator and artist, and today I work to keep both in play as I believe I cannot teach my craft unless I am also practicing my craft. In 2025, after 15 years of having my home base out on the East Coast, I am bringing my work back to the Midwest and now call Milwaukee, home while still serving nationwide.

*This training is based on the culmination of various state regulations regarding dementia education for memory care staff. Adaptations can be made to better fit the needs and requirements of your community. Each session comes with a pre/post test, student handbook identifying all that was covered in the training, and certification of completion.

A preferences is made for in-person training and a partnership of a 3, 6, or 12 month contract. Regardless of contract term, all trainings provide a 2-week and 6-month follow-up calls with staff education leads regarding the success of implementation of information.

I do not cover Elder Abuse as this topic should be provided (and is best provided) by the staff of the community. I do mention the severity of elder abuse, but do not cover best practices and policies.