Speaker: Dr. Kathleen Weissberg, National Director of Education, Select Rehabilitation

Bullying, defined as “a distinctive pattern of deliberately harming and humiliating others,” is an increasingly common problem among seniors. While the communal-living nature of senior living communities can open the door for socialization and friendship, it can also be the location of cliques, gossip, abuse and bullying behavior.  It is estimated that between 10 and 20 percent of older adults living in senior living communities are mistreated by their peers, and often the behavior goes unreported or unnoticed by staff. Unfortunately, bullying is not just exhibited on the playground – it is a behavior that spans multiple demographics and age groups.

In this session, participants will learn the definition and incidence of bullying in adult living communities and day centers including what older adult bullying looks like in this population.  Characteristics of older adult bullies as well their targets and gender differences will be explored.  The reasons why bullying occurs as well as the five different types of bullies are defined. 

The impact of bullying is detrimental to the health and well-being of our seniors.  Even one instance can have a lasting impact!  Therefore, it is not enough just to define bullying – communities need to know how to address bullying when they see it and stop it before it becomes a problem.  In this interactive session, participants will learn key evidence-based strategies for confronting and communicating with a bully.  Approaches include empathy, questioning, confrontation, deontology, acknowledgement, and others.

Several case examples will be offered with opportunities for participants to brainstorm approaches and dialogue about advantages and disadvantages of each approach.  Many people struggle with what to say to a bully to stop their behavior.  There is no one “right” answer to this issue.  But at the conclusion of the session, participants will have additional tools in their communication toolbox.

Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Marana, PhD, Marana Consulting

This session will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about the successes and challenges of building and sustaining diversity efforts at their organizations.  Participants will be given guidance on best practices to remain engaged in their organization's diversity journeys. 

Objectives:

1. Explore options for developing organizational diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) efforts.
2. Discuss sustainability efforts and how to stay engaged in the journey.
3. Learn about how other organizations approach DEIB work.

This month's session asks participants to survey the activities and programs they offer for seniors in their housing communities and to compare them to the principles derived from research by Author Brooks, an acclaimed Harvard professor and author on the topic.

Speaker: Bette McNee, Vice President, Clinical Safety, Graham Company

March 20

"Join Housing Happenings in March for a look at key trends in affordable housing. You'll hear from Juliana Bilowich, Director of Housing Operations and Policy with LeadingAge National, who will share how federal housing policy actions are impacting the everyday lives of housing staff and residents. We'll touch on hot topics like HOTMA, Service Coordination, criminal background screening, and more, and we'll make sure to leave time for Q&A." 

Speaker: Juliana Bilowich, Director of Housing Operations and Policy with LeadingAge

Speaker: Steve Wilder, President and CEO, Sorensen, Wilder & Associates

Speaker: Stacey Young, Director, Center of Excellence in Dementia Care, Broadmead
During this session Stacey will give an overview on mild cognitive impairment and the most common types of dementia, communication tips and tools. 

Speaker: Susan W. Lehmann, M.D., Director of Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital
In this conversation, Dr. Susan W. Lehmann, a geriatric psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will discuss factors that contribute to successful aging. She will review threats to well-being with aging and what current research indicates about what can promote emotional well-being with aging, both on the individual level and the community level.

Speaker: Belinda Degboe, Director of Well-being Asbury Methodist Village