Education Sessions

Wednesday, May 6

Thursday, May 7

10:55 - 11:55 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

100: Driving Nutrition, Wellness, and Clinical Excellence in Senior Living
Marissa Murphy, Forefront 
Service Line: All
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Understand the nutritional requirements and needs for senior living.
• Understand how to bring health and wellness initiatives to your community.
• Understand the Registered Dietitian's Role at your community.

101: Winning the Workforce Challenge: Marketing and Innovation in Senior Living
Melissa Smalley, Marketing Essentials
Service Line: All
Track: Marketing & Sales
Objectives:

• The latest workforce trends in healthcare.
• How a senior living community can improve marketing to current and prospective employees.
• Discuss innovative strategies being implemented to address challenges across all roles in healthcare.

102: From Cost Report to Board Report: Using Cost Data to Drive Rates, Budgets, and Better Decisions
Alexandrea Keller, Williams & Company, PC
Service Line: All
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives:

• Analyze major cost report categories to 8–10 operational drivers leaders can influence monthly.
• Recognize common cost reporting pitfalls that create financial and compliance risk.
• Develop a board-ready narrative that links cost structure to decisions leaders control.

Amanda Lyda, Wipfli; Patrick Carroll, Wipfli; Ogieva Guobadia, D.A. Davidson
Service Line: All
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives: 

• Apply structured planning models tailored to aging services organizations, including scenario planning and mission-aligned growth strategies.
• Explain market study data and building financial feasibility models to support service expansion or repositioning.
• Identify capital planning approaches and emerging financing tools, including tax-exempt bonds and partnership strategies.

104: The Rise of Involuntary Discharges in the SNF Setting
Adam Guetzow, Hinshaw and Culbertson, LLP
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives: 

• Gain a better understanding of how resident acuity may impact the need for involuntary discharges.
• Learn the requirements for each bases for an involuntary discharge.
• Better understand the involuntary discharge appeal process.

105: 2026 Legal Update for Aging Services
Rebecca Brommel, Dorsey & Whitney LLP; Alissa Smith, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Service Line: All
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives: 

• Examine and analyze current legal trends in the area of surveys and citations.
• Recognize and examine legal trends in the area of licensing and other laws and regulations affecting the long term care industry.
• Identify legal hot topics and trends in long term care.

106: International Hiring Without Regret: How to Build a Compliant, Sustainable Global Workforce Strategy
Iris Sagrado, Filro Global Hiring
Service Line: All
Track: Workforce & Leadership Development

• Identify the appropriate visa pathways for common aging services roles and evaluate when international hiring aligns with their organization’s workforce and operational needs.
• Assess recruitment and immigration partner agreements by recognizing key contract, cost, and compliance elements that reduce legal, financial, and retention risk.
• Apply a practical decision framework to design onboarding, retention, and oversight practices that support workforce stability while maintaining regulatory and ethical compliance.

Breakout Sessions

200: From Risk to Resilience: Reducing MDRO Transmission with Effective Enhanced Barrier Precaution (EBP) Practices
Gina Anderson, Cattail Nurse Consulting; Jay Jenison, Cattail Nurse Consulting
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Identify key components of an effective infection prevention and control (IPC) system in long-term care.
• Apply evidence-based infection transmission precautions by explaining the why, who,  when, what, where, and how behind EBP practices.
• Evaluate and strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) implementation processes.

201: Staying in the Game: Building Experiences That Keep Residents Connected to Life
Sara Kyle, LE3 Solutions
Service Line: All
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Identify how to shift from nostalgia-based programming to forward-looking engagement using the Body–Mind–Community framework.
• Understand how blending individualized and group programming turns personal interests into meaningful community engagement.
• Identify how staff-created daily experiences fuel resident fulfillment, family trust, and five-star outcomes.

202: SEO & AEO - Online Search Visibility in the Age of AI
Melissa Smalley, Marketing Essentials
Service Line: All
Track: Marketing & Sales
Objectives:

• Identify the state of SEO.
• Define AEO and how it overlaps with SEO tactics.
• Learn how to improve your visibility in LLMs (language learning models).

203: PACE and Affordable Housing
Julie Kaminski, Immanuel; April Butterfield, Immanuel
Service Line: IL/HCBS/CCRC
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives:

• Explain what PACE is.
• Describe how PACE fits  into the managed care and value based care landscape.
• Affordable Housing synergies and population health management.

204: From Residents to Changemakers: Lessons in Creating Hubs of Lifelong Learning & Community Impact
Paddy Homan, Plymouth Place
Service Line: AL/CCRC
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives:

• Explain how empowering residents leads to higher satisfaction, stronger culture, and increased community reputation.
• Replicate programs such as lecture series, volunteer committees, community service partnerships, and intergenerational learning opportunities.
• Identify key components of a resident-led lifelong learning and service framework.

205: Understanding Residential Accessibility: Codes, Common Mistakes, & Things to Keep in Mind
Michael Grochola, MAP Strategies
Service Line: All
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives:

• Navigate how city, state, and federal accessibility codes interact.
• Understand how accessibility applies to their physical facility.
• Visualize the requirements and common mistakes.

206: Vendor Contracts in Aging Services
David Alfini, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Service Line: All
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives:

• Explain the foundational elements of a contract and why mutual understanding of terms is essential for protecting the provider.
• Describe how risk transfer through indemnification and insurance clauses reduces a provider’s legal and financial exposure.
• Identify the contract terms most critical to ensuring resident safety and organizational protection in the senior living context.

207: R.E.A.L. Leadership for Change Makers: Empowering Resilient Care Teams to Thrive Every Day  
Yanick Hick, Maxwell Leadership
Service Line: All
Track: Workforce & Leadership Development
Objectives:

• Strengthen Resilience: Develop practical strategies to adapt to constant change, lead through adversity, and sustain focus in high-pressure care environments.
• Elevate Emotional Intelligence: Enhance self-awareness, empathy, and communication to foster stronger connections, collaboration, and team effectiveness.

Breakout Sessions

300: Building a Community of Purpose: Activities Professionals Advancing Resident-Centered Living
Gina Anderson, Cattail Nurse Consulting; Morgan Merritts, Cattail Nurse Consulting
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Explain resident-centered care and its integration with a focus on health equity.
• Identify how Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) and culture change contribute to enhancing resident-centered care.
• Identify practical steps your nursing home can implement to combat social isolation and loneliness, enhance resident-centered care planning and recognize strategies to reinforce resident-centered care.

301: Beyond the Dispensing: The Pharmacist's Role in the Future of Long-Term Care
Rob Leffler, Synchrony Pharmacy
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Identify strategic opportunities to partner with long-term care pharmacies in new ways.
• Describe ways to leverage pharmacy partnerships to reduce hospitalizations and improve clinical outcomes.
• Evaluate financial and regulatory impact.

302: Loop Marketing: A Modern Approach for Senior Living
Melissa Smalley, Marketing Essentials
Service Line: All
Track: Marketing & Sales
Objectives:

• Understand the Loop Marketing framework and its differences from traditional funnel-based marketing in senior living.
• Identify practical strategies and tools to attract, engage, convert, delight, and turn families into advocates.
• Develop an action plan to apply Loop Marketing in their own community, strengthening trust and generating long-term growth.

303: Eating The Environment. Sustainable Foodservice Practices For The Future
Chris Greve, Forefront 
Service Line: All
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives: 

• Learn how to audit their communities and develop and action plan.
• Learn how to measure and track success. Follow the changes made directly to the bottom line.
• How to build support materials that benefit your team and guests.

304: Growth Playbook: Scaling to Surf the Silver Tsunami
Matt Mule, Ziegler
Service Line: All
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives: 

• Identify emerging industry trends shaping the future of not-for-profit senior living
• Assess innovative growth strategies from traditional brick-and-mortar solutions to alternative service lines
• Examine creative financing models and capital strategies that support expansion while managing risk

305: Do's and Don'ts of Long-Term Care Documentation
Tricia Hoffman-Simanek, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC; Ross Andrews, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, PLC
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives:

• Understand and describe common charting errors and practices that increase litigation risks with charting in long-term care.
• Identify methods to apply best practices in adverse outcome documentation, including investigations and incident reporting.
• Recognize pitfalls with discipline and documentation in personnel files that can be harmful in litigation.

306: The Modern Assisted Living Facility Lawsuit
Adam Guetzow, Hinshaw and Culbertson, LLP
Service Line: AL/CCRC
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives:

• Understand the differences between ALF and SNF litigation.
• Learn best practices for responding to inappropriate admission or retention of residency claims.
• Discuss ways to implement prevention and mitigation tools to address these rises in litigation against assisted living facilities.

307: Proven De-Escalation Techniques for Frontline Healthcare Workers
John Good, JG Good Corporation
Service Line: All
Track: Workforce & Leadership Development
Objectives:

• Utilize proven verbal techniques to de-escalate heated situations.
• Identify do’s and don’ts frontline staff should follow during de-escalation.
• Demonstrate professional behaviors expected of frontline staff in challenging interactions.

Breakout Sessions

400: Empathy at Scale: How AI Strengthens the Human Side of Care
Jessie Conklin, Amba
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Identify how passive AI monitoring reduces caregiver cognitive load, burnout, and reactive task cycles.
• Explain the neuroscience behind proactive awareness, trust-building, and empathy in care environments.
• Apply strategies for integrating predictive, data-driven insights into daily workflows while preserving human connection.

401: Reimagining Dining: Alignment, Healthier Menus, Farm-to-Table Sourcing, and Human-Centered Leadership
Krista Adams, WesleyLife; Janet Simpson, WesleyLife
Service Line: All
Track: Care & Services
Objectives:

• Describe how centralized menu development and alignment improve consistency, quality, and efficiency across multiple locations.
• Identify practical strategies for ensuring that at least 75 percent of menu offerings meet defined healthier or plant-forward standards.
• Explain how trust-based leadership supports organizational alignment when chefs transition from independent operators to a unified culinary team.

402: AI Applications with Essential Ethical Considerations for Sales, Marketing, and Beyond
Francis Palma, Covenant Living; Joe Lane, Covenant Living / OSG
Service Line: All
Track: Marketing & Sales
Objectives:

• Describe practical ways to use AI to improve team efficiency and reclaim strategic time.
• Apply proven strategies to Increase lead generation and reduce cost-per-lead.
• Identify a framework for using AI responsibly with clear ethical and privacy guardrails.

403: Understanding Your Organization So You Are Positioned For Future Opportunities 
Gary Jones, The Jones Law Firm
Service Line: All
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives: 

• Understand the concept of organization health, and organizational readiness.
• Recognize the importance of a culture and values check to truly be able to assess organizational health.
• Learn how to create a decision framework to know when it is time to explore transformational opportunities.

404: Emerging AI Risks in Care Delivery and Senior Living 
Jim Staed, EPIC Senior Living
Service Line: All
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives: 

• Analyze how technology platforms can enhance emergency response and communication in senior living communities.
• Design effective staff training programs that incorporate drills, simulations, and scenario-based learning.
• Evaluate current emergency preparedness plans to identify gaps and implement improvements.

405: The Long-Term Care Rollercoster: How to Survive the Ride
Jay Jenison, Cattail Nurse Consulting; Morgan Merritts, Cattail Nurse Consulting
Service Line: SNF/CCRC
Track: Strategy & Operations
Objectives: 

• Describe appropriate and effective responses to severe situations that may occur within the facility
• Explain the process for moving forward after severe events or high-level deficiencies—such as Immediate Jeopardy (IJ)
• Identify proactive steps and best practices that can help reduce the likelihood of severe situations occurring within the facility

406: Anatomy of and HR Investigation: The Do's and Don'ts for Compliance
Aimee Delaney, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Service Line: All
Track: Public Policy & Legal Issues
Objectives: 

• Gain a basis understanding of the legal implications for complaints and investigations.
• Learn the key steps for a workplace investigation.
• Gain an understanding of best practices in investigations to ensure compliance.

407: Leading with Ikigai: A Practical Strategy for Purpose, Performance, and Culture
Angie Gray, High Performance Nursing
Service Line: All
Track: Workforce & Leadership Development
Objectives: 

• Identify their personal Ikigai—the intersection of passion, purpose, and profession - and understand how it influences their leadership style and impact.
• Apply practical tools to help team members connect their daily work to personal and organizational purpose, improving engagement and fulfillment.
• Implement strategies using the Leadership Ikigai Worksheet to strengthen team culture, communication, and shared meaning across all levels of care.