Workshops + Keynotes
Empowering dementia caregivers and families through transformative sessions on storytelling, culturally responsive care, and caregiver resilience.
Caregiver Writing Circle (Virtual or In-Person)
For: Family caregivers, adult children caring for aging parents, caregiver support groups
A safe, guided space for dementia caregivers to process their journey through therapeutic writing and storytelling. Participants learn to document their loved one's life story, preserve family memories, and navigate caregiver grief and guilt through narrative healing.
Outcomes participants will experience:
Reduced caregiver stress and emotional overwhelm through expressive writing techniques
Tools to create legacy documents and memory books for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Connection with other caregivers facing similar challenges with dementia progression
Permission to honour their own story alongside their care recipient's journey
Ideal for: Alzheimer's Society chapters, caregiver support groups, community health centres, employee wellness programs
Formats:
60–90 minute virtual sessions
Half-day or full-day workshops
Keynotes for conferences and events
Investment: Starting at $2499
Dementia Awareness & Care Navigation Sessions (For Families, Healthcare Staff, or Community Organizations)
For: Families newly navigating a dementia diagnosis, healthcare professionals, PSWs, long-term care staff, community service providers
Evidence-based dementia education that centres cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and practical caregiving strategies. Sessions address the unique barriers faced by racialized families, including mistrust of healthcare systems, language barriers, and cultural stigma around cognitive decline.
Outcomes participants will experience:
Understanding of dementia stages, behaviour management, and person-centred care approaches
Culturally responsive communication strategies for diverse patient populations
Tools to navigate the Canadian healthcare system, including homecare coordination and long-term care placement
Compassion fatigue prevention and caregiver burnout recognition
Ideal for: Hospitals, retirement homes, continuing care facilities, family caregiver programs, diversity and inclusion training initiatives
Formats:
60–90 minute virtual sessions
Half-day or full-day workshops
Keynotes for conferences and events
Investment: Starting at $3599
School & Youth Visits: Storytelling, Representation & Intergenerational Connection
For: Elementary and secondary students, youth groups, library programs
Interactive sessions that teach young people the power of story, the importance of honouring elders, and representation in literature. Students explore how to bridge generational gaps, combat ageism, and understand cognitive health through age-appropriate storytelling exercises.
Outcomes participants will experience:
Increased empathy for aging family members and people living with dementia
Skills to interview and document family histories
Understanding of diverse narratives and the importance of seeing themselves in stories
Tools to combat isolation for seniors and strengthen intergenerational bonds
Ideal for: Schools, libraries, youth leadership programs, Black History Month programming, Seniors Week initiatives
Formats:
60–90 minute virtual sessions
Half-day or full-day workshops
Keynotes for conferences and events
Investment: Starting at $999
Book Me To Speak
Topics
Caregiving While Black: Navigating Dementia in Racialized Communities"
A powerful keynote exploring the intersection of race, healthcare inequity, and dementia caregiving. Valene addresses cultural barriers to diagnosis, systemic mistrust of medical institutions, and the emotional labour of advocating for Black and racialized seniors within a system not designed for them.
Key themes: Health disparities, cultural stigma, caregiver advocacy, navigating the Canadian healthcare system as a racialized family
"The Healing Power of Story: How Narrative Preserves Identity Through Cognitive Decline"
An evidence-based exploration of reminiscence therapy, life story work, and how storytelling maintains personhood for individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia. This session provides practical tools for families and professionals to use narrative as a non-pharmacological intervention.
Key themes: Person-centred dementia care, memory preservation, therapeutic storytelling, caregiver connection strategies
"Bridging Generations Through Memory: Preventing Isolation in Dementia Care"
A moving talk on how intergenerational programming, legacy projects, and shared storytelling combat the profound loneliness experienced by both people with dementia and their family caregivers. Valene shares actionable strategies for families, communities, and organizations to create meaningful connections across age and cognitive ability.
Key themes: Social isolation in dementia, intergenerational caregiving, family caregiver support, memory care activities
