meet ashley
aging is personal. so is this work.
hey there! I'm ashley!
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A gerontologist, social worker, and bold anti-ageist advocate. I created The Dementia Guru because honestly.. I got tired of seeing families like mine struggle, caregivers burnout, organizations deliver the bare minimum in care, and systems pretend like dementia care is easy. It's not. But we can change the narrative.
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This work started for me at the tender age of 6 years old, when I first witnessed dementia up close, as my Great Grandma Trollie lived with Alzheimer's. Would you believe that I can still remember the exact day I realized she would never be the same? Like it was yesterday. That memory is etched in my heart, forever.
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I didn't quite have the words for what I was seeing back then, but I knew it was important. My mother stepping in to be her caregiver, was important. That early childhood experience shaped how I see aging, brain change, and caregiving. It planted the seed for every thing I do now.
this is more than a career
this is my legacy.
I've spent 16+ years walking with thousands of people through the hardest parts of the aging & dementia care journey. Families who look just like mine! A daughter trying to care for her mom with Vascular dementia, or a community health org trying to train staff with compassion and competence. I'm in it with you.
I use my own lived experience, clinical training, and bold advocacy to push for a world where:
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Aging is embraced (not feared)
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Caregivers are supported (+ compensated!)
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Dementia is understood (not stigmatized)
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And equity isn't just a checked box (it's bible)​
![IMG_2531[2899]_edited.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/831c86_4b660875e83c40c280ffc7043d2eab8b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_349,h_467,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_2531%5B2899%5D_edited.png)
My work is grounded in dementia education, caregiving support, and anti-ageism & equity practice. I keep it real and have fun while doing so! I teach with my heart, backed up with knowledge, and always centering the people doing the hardest work: YOU! Caregivers, aging folks, and communities who are too often left out of the conversation.​
Where my is
heart
These days you'll find me:
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Teaching workshops and giving keynotes on dementia, caregiving, and ageism
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Consulting with orgs to build person-centered aging and care initiatives
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Creating content that gives people tools they need to thrive
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Raising my baby boy with my hubby [as new parents], and loving my people hard. Because this care work starts at home, too!
You Might Have Seen Me In
The Credentials
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Bowling Green State University, Bachelor of Science, Gerontology
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The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
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The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Masters of Social Work (MSW)
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North Carolina Social Work Certification & Boards, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
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National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
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University of Southern Florida, Diversity Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate
