The Dementia Grove CareForward Program

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Founder & Owner, The Dementia Grove
Co-Founder & Founding Educator, The Dementia Grove CareForward Program

Melissa Denham is the Founder and Owner of The Dementia Grove and Co-Founder of The Dementia Grove CareForward Program. As a Licensed Practical Nurse and nationally recognized dementia care professional, Melissa has dedicated her career to educating, empowering, and supporting individuals living with dementia, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals through compassionate, evidence-based practices.

Drawing from years of experience in senior care, memory care, and community education, Melissa recognized that meaningful change in dementia care happens through continuous education—not one-time trainings. Together with Gloria Ebey, she co-created The Dementia Grove CareForward Program to provide senior living communities with ongoing staff education, caregiver support, and leadership collaboration that creates lasting improvements in dementia care.

As a Founding Educator of the CareForward Program, Melissa develops educational content, leads interactive training sessions, mentors healthcare professionals, and equips caregivers with practical, person-centered strategies that can be immediately applied in everyday care.

Melissa is passionate about helping others see the individual beyond the diagnosis. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes dignity, meaningful engagement, and compassionate communication, empowering care teams to provide exceptional dementia care while supporting families throughout every stage of the journey.

Through The Dementia Grove and the CareForward Program, Melissa is committed to raising the standard of dementia education across Central Florida and creating communities where caregivers feel confident, families feel supported, and individuals living with dementia are treated with dignity and respect.

Co-Founder & Founding Educational Consultant
The Dementia Grove CareForward Program

Gloria Ebey is a dedicated senior care advocate, community educator, and dementia care professional with more than 20 years of experience serving seniors, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals throughout Central Florida. Originally trained as an Occupational Therapist in Colombia, Gloria brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, cultural understanding, and heartfelt compassion to every educational opportunity.

As Co-Founder and Founding Educational Consultant of The Dementia Grove CareForward Program, Gloria works alongside Melissa Denham to develop and deliver educational programs that strengthen dementia care across senior living communities. She brings extensive expertise in dementia education, caregiver support, leadership development, and end-of-life care, helping organizations build confident, compassionate, and highly skilled care teams.

For more than a decade with VITAS Healthcare, Gloria has specialized in hospice and end-of-life education, guiding families and interdisciplinary teams through some of life's most challenging transitions. She is also an experienced support group facilitator, public speaker, and educator who has partnered with organizations including AdventHealth, the Alzheimer's Association, the Parkinson's Foundation, Elder Options, and numerous community organizations to advance dementia education and advocacy.

Grounded in both professional expertise and deep compassion, Gloria believes every person deserves dignity, purpose, respect, and meaningful connection. Her mission is to equip caregivers and healthcare professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and hope needed to provide exceptional, person-centered dementia care.