What's Your MVP? | Coach Donnie Campbell (1.0 Admin CE)

The PEAK Perspectives: Triumphs, Trials, and Solutions | PEAK 2.0 Project Staff and Program Participants, Moderated by Kevin McFarland, LeadingAge Kansas (1.5 Admin CE)

In this candid panel discussion, your peers will reveal their strategies for turning PEAK challenges into opportunities for excellence. Discover practical approaches that are working right now in homes like yours, and leave with actionable insights to enhance your own PEAK journey.

Session Objectives:

Strategic Planning for Aging Services: A Roadmap for Managing Your Own Approach | Andy Edeburn, Elder Dynamics (1.5 Admin CE)

For many aging services organizations, thinking about what’s next and where we go from here is on a lot of minds. Strategic planning has once again emerged as a vehicle to consider these questions and others. But what really is strategic planning and how do we do it? This session will discuss the role of strategic planning for aging services organizations, why it is essential and important, and how to actually start, lead, and accomplish a strategic planning process. We’ll consider an overall approach in three broad steps, the roles of governance and leadership in the process, techniques and best practices along the way, and how to translate future aspiration into practical action. By the end of this session, participants should feel armed with an approach, tools, and resources to guide their own planning process.

Session Objectives:

3:05 - 3:55 PM

4:05 - 4:55 PM

Let's Go Phishing | Adam Boyle, Networks Plus (1.0 Admin CE)

During this session, Adam will take your audience through case studies and scenarios of employee errors that cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars and numerous days of lost productivity. He will then demonstrate how a few changes in the way we educate our team members can be the deciding factor in a data breach attempt.

Session Objectives:

Careforce Report: Should I Stay, or Should I Go? | KARE Technologies (1.0 Admin CE)

KARE’s Careforce Report, "Should I Stay, or Should I Go?" captures insights from over 3,000 licensed caregivers on the critical factors shaping the future of the senior care workforce. Despite the strong vocational commitment of caregivers, a significant 14% are preparing to exit the field. The study pinpoints low pay (28%) burnout (9%), and other key motivations behind turnover. Wage concerns have intensified, especially as 64% reported declining or flat compensation since COVID-19, further impacting satisfaction. Notably, caregivers value workplace safety and flexibility, with 98% indicating that these factors would encourage them to stay in their roles. Data also reveals a divide in retention trends based on caregiver certifications: while CNAs and CMAs report higher job satisfaction, RNs show a steep drop in their Net Promoter Score (NPS), highlighting the need for tailored retention strategies.

Session Objectives:

• Key drivers of caregiver turnover, including the financial strain from flat wages and the desire for fulfilling work.
• How focusing on flexibility, safety, and support can lead to better retention outcomes.
• Data-backed strategies to create a work environment that not only retains caregivers but also fosters job satisfaction, boosting quality of care.

Validation Therapy and Compassionate Communication in Dementia Care | Hollie Glover-Lowe, James L. West Center for Dementia Care (1.0 Res. Care CE)

Maximizing Value: Strategies for Managing Dining Budgets Effectively | Lance Sanson, Cura Hospitality (1.0 Admin CE)

This engaging presentation will equip participants with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively manage dining budgets in today's dynamic environment. Attendees will explore key components of budget analysis, uncovering opportunities to optimize costs without sacrificing quality or customer satisfaction. Practical strategies for forecasting, menu planning, and expense alignment will be discussed, along with insights into leveraging supplier relationships and procurement innovations. The session will also cover methods for monitoring budget performance, ensuring transparency, and driving long-term financial sustainability. Whether you're seeking cost efficiencies or looking to enhance operational outcomes, this presentation offers actionable solutions to help you achieve your goals.

Session Objectives:

• Learn how to analyze dining budget components to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.
• Understand best practices for forecasting and aligning dining expenses with operational goals.
• Explore innovative approaches to menu planning that balance cost-efficiency with customer satisfaction.
• Gain insights into leveraging supplier partnerships and procurement strategies to optimize spending.
• Develop the skills to track, measure, and report on dining budget performance to ensure ongoing financial health and accountability.

Solution Focused Problem Solving | Percy Turner & Zane May, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (1.5 Admin CE)

9:40 - 10:30 AM 

1:00 - 1:50 PM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

AI in Senior Living: Expert Insights & Governance | Matt Reiner, Parasol Alliance (1.0 Admin CE) 

Do you share the same uncertainty and fear of AI as many others? In senior living, AI is making a big impact, improving the resident experience and boosting operations. Tools like chatbots, copilots, and transcription apps are just the beginning. We chatted with 18 leading senior living AI experts to get their take on where AI is headed and what it means for senior living. Plus, we’ll break down what you need to know about AI governance to ensure it’s used the right way in your community. Find out how AI is changing the game—and how you can stay ahead.

Session Objectives: 

• Analyze current AI trends and tools in the senior living industry, including chatbots and transcription tools.
• Evaluate how you can make informed decisions about the safety of AI programs.
• Interpret results and trends from key thought leaders in the industry.

We're From the Government and We're Here to Help: Interpreting the OIG's New Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Homes | Brooke Bennett Aziere, Foulston Siefkin LLP (1.0 Admin CE)

On November 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued new Industry Segment-Specific Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Homes (“Nursing Facility ICPG”). The Nursing Facility ICPG describes risk areas for nursing facilities, recommendations, and practical considerations for mitigating those risks, and other important information OIG believes nursing facilities should consider when implementing, evaluating and updating their compliance and quality programs. In this session, we’ll provide an overview of the Nursing Facility ICPG and drill down into how nursing facilities can use the guidance to assess whether their current compliance programs conform with OIG’s expectations.

Session Objectives: 

• Learn what’s new in the OIG’s Industry Segment-Specific Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Facilities.
• Identify ways a facility’s compliance team can comprehensively review the Nursing Facility ICPG and reference it when assessing current programs.
• Outline how facilities can use the Nursing Facility ICPGs to proactively detect, assess, and remediate compliance concerns.

Professional Boundaries and Nursing Ethics | Dr. Michael Gillette, Bioethical Services of Virginia, Inc. (1.0 Res. Care CE)

This highly interactive, case-based seminar will present an overview of ethical issues that develop when providers and recipients fail to recognize professional boundaries.  By examining actual case consultations, we will explore key concepts and generate a better understanding of the relationship between healthcare personnel and the individuals whom they serve.

Session Objectives:

• To define professional boundaries and dual relationships in an ethically useful way.
• To explore difficult cases where boundary crossings are difficult to identify or avoid. 
• To demonstrate tools and policies that can of use in avoiding inappropriate boundary crossings. 

Emotional Intelligence & Managing the Room | Erin Putney, Before the Casket (1.0 Admin CE)

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial in healthcare, particularly when dealing with sensitive situations like death and end-of-life care. EQ is rooted in brain regions, so it’s important to understand the biology of emotional intelligence. Learn about the skills necessary and how to adapt to various health care situations. By cultivating EQ, healthcare professionals can enhance their communication skills, build stronger relationships with patients, families, and colleagues, and ultimately provide more compassionate and effective care.

Session Objectives:

• Identify the skills of emotional intelligence (EQ).
• Discuss methods for using EQ at the bedside or in healthcare.
• Create a personal goal for self-improvement using EQ.

Workplace Ethics in Long Term Care | Dr. Michael Gillette, Bioethical Services of Virginia, Inc. (1.0 Admin CE)

Does the administration of a long-term care community have an ethical obligation to protect its employees from racially offensive comments made by residents? Does a staff member have an ethical obligation to continue to provide care to an individual with dementia who recurrently gropes providers? These questions, and many others like them, compel us to examine not only the legal aspects of maintaining safe and supportive work environments, but also the ethical implications of dealing with individuals, some of whom might be acting secondary to mental illness or dementia, who engage in offensive or dangerous behavior. This seminar is designed to assist attendees in identifying and managing these types of ethical issues as they present in the long term care environment. The session will be highly interactive, and it will begin by considering the concepts of harassment and hostile work environments.  After discussing the moral complexities of this topic on a general level, we will then consider specific applications involving offensive or dangerous resident behavior. 

Session Objectives:

• To understand the definition of harassment and examine the ethical complexities of this concept.
• To define sexual harassment and hostile work environments from an ethical perspective.
• To explore the ethical scope of individual accountability for actions and the limits of staff responsibility to manage unsafe or uncomfortable client encounters. 

2:00 - 2:50 PM

Our Dawn is Breaking: 7 Things We Should Be Excited About | Andy Edeburn, Elder Dynamics (1.0 Admin CE)

For aging services leaders, the last few years have been rough. We’ve had to watch our organizations, our teams, and our residents go through a proverbial earthquake and we’re still dealing – sometimes almost daily – with the aftershocks. We’ve been in a lot of dark. But we’re coming back into the light – a new era is dawning for aging care and service, and there are some things to be very excited about. This session will take a glimpse at what lies ahead for aging services organizations, the big changes that are coming, and where we should play a leading role in shaping that future.

Session Objectives:

• Explain major trends in the near and mid-term for the aging services sector.
• Describe how aging services organizations are positioning and preparing for change.
• Summarize strategic opportunities for organizations to explore or adopt.

Financial Management Strategies: Implementing Best Practices and Understanding How to Empower Your Team's Financial Oversight | Bob Dick & Kailey Riskowski, Bland & Associates (1.0 Admin CE)

Providers face rising costs, staffing shortages, reliance on nursing agencies, fluctuating occupancy rates, and constantly evolving Federal and State regulations. In this challenging environment, it is critical for the executive team to maintain a clear understanding of the facility’s financial health. Equally important, department supervisors and the entire management team must recognize how their actions directly influence the facility’s financial stability and long-term success. This presentation aims to equip attendees with actionable financial management strategies and best practices while fostering a culture of empowered and effective financial oversight within nursing home teams.

Session Objectives: 

• Analyze Key Financial Challenges: Identify and evaluate the impact of inflated costs, staffing shortages, regulatory changes, and occupancy fluctuations on the financial health of nursing home facilities.
• Implement Effective Oversight Practices: Develop strategies for the executive and management teams to monitor and enhance financial performance while ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.
• Empower Team-Based Financial Awareness: Equip department supervisors and staff with the knowledge and tools to understand how their actions influence the facility’s financial well-being and contribute to its overall stability.

You Can Make a Difference | Judge Tommy Webb (1.0 Admin CE)

Judge Webb's life story, "You Can Make A Difference" focuses on making a positive difference in a negative world. He has experienced life from a perspective not shared by individuals who live in this part of the world. His dynamic message to value and appreciate the qualities of other people is delivered with a sense of humor that will be inspiring, thought provoking, and entertaining