Event Calendar

A-1: Regulatory Updates and Tips to Achieve Optimal Survey Performance - Pam Bibeault, RNC, MS, NHA, CLNC, CPHQ, CHC, President, Triad Consulting
Regulations are always changing and other variables such as the workforce shortage are making it more and more challenging to be a consistently high performing organization. What do you have to do differently in order to enjoy ongoing success? Pam will review the most recent regulatory changes, survey hot topics, and strategies to help your team ensure optimal survey performance. In this session you will: 

(NE-MSD Nursing Credits applied for)*

A-2: FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and More: What to Do When Leave Laws Collide - Francesco A. DeLuca, Shareholder, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., and Rachel Mandel, Assistant General Counsel, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
This session will discuss how to manage leave requests under various state and federal laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), the Temporary Caregiver Insurance Law (TCI), and more. We will cover the employer coverage and eligibility requirements under each law, so organizations can determine whether the law applies to them generally, and if so, whether a particular employee may take leave under the law. We will then analyze what organizations should do when more than one law applies to an employee’s request for leave by using real-life examples from court cases and agency guidance. Attendees will also receive helpful checklists and model documents to assist them in response to employee leave requests. After attending this session, you will understand:

A-3: Best Practices with Advance Directives and Resident Care - Matt Reeber, Partner, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara, LLC
Advance Directives affect decisions about whether and how to provide care to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. When faced with an emergency medical issue, providers sometimes have difficulty determining what the correct decision is. This session addresses best practices when faced with an emergency for a resident with an Advance Directive. It will cover the requirements related to Advance Directives, specific concerns about Advance Directives in patient care, and emergency situations during which an Advance Directive would impact resident care.
(NASW-RI Credits applied for)

B-1: Be CAUTIous: An Interactive Workshop of Infection Prevention Practices - Caryn Arnold, MBA, RN, BSN, CNOR(E), a-IPC, Medical Science Liaison, Medline Industries, LP 
This session will review potential causes of CAUTIs and UTIs and explore updates in CAUTI prevention and catheter care, including nurse-driven practices. The presenter will provide opportunities for interactive education and a deep dive into the best practices for CAUTI prevention within a nursing home setting. The session will offer practical strategies and engage learners in mini-workshop style instruction. After attending this session, you will be able to: 

(NE-MSD Nursing Credits applied for)*

B-2: AI in Senior Living: Expert Insights and Governance in a Changing Landscape - Amber Bardon, Founder & CEO, Parasol Alliance 
Do you share the same uncertainties about using AI as many others do? In this session, you can get your questions answered. The senior living industry is increasingly leveraging AI-based tools to improve resident experience and operational efficiency. Among these tools are chatbots, copilots, transcription tools, and more. We interviewed 18 industry-leading experts to gather their insights and predictions about trends in AI. We’ll describe these trends and tools and also provide information on the governance of AI in senior living communities. You will: 

B-3: Strengthening Behavioral Health Management: Preparing Valued Professionals for Safer Communities - Steven Shaw, MSIOP, MHRT-CSP, Behavioral Specialist, New England Region, Alliant Health Solutions  
Responding to someone exhibiting aggressive behavior is not a baseline skill, and the frontline staff who interact most with these residents lack the training to identify and address challenging behaviors. This deficiency puts resident and staff safety at risk and results in staff frustration and burnout, leading to retention issues. In this session, you will learn how evidence-based behavioral health training can equip aging services professionals with the skills they need to support and improve the quality of life for residents experiencing Serious Mental Illness (SMI)- bipolar, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, Substance Use Disorders (SUD), Co-Occurring Disorders (COD)- SUD, or Mental Disorder. Specialized training for staff designated as behavioral health ambassadors provides the necessary tools to de-escalate incidents of aggression, thereby providing a safe and healthy environment, eliminating staff burnout, and retaining valued professionals. You will: 

(NASW-RI Credits applied for)

---

C-1: Enhancing Communication with Patients Living with Dementia - Lisa Wasson RN, CHPN, CMDCP, Community Nurse Educator, HopeHealth 
Effective communication with patients living with dementia is essential for improving their quality of life and fostering meaningful connections. While dementia often affects memory and language skills, research shows that patients retain emotional awareness and the ability to respond to emotional cues. In this course, we will explore the best practices for communication as identified by patients themselves, offering insights into how healthcare workers can adapt their approach. Participants will learn about the power of nonverbal communication techniques and the challenges caregivers may face when implementing these strategies. Together, we will discuss practical tools for improving interactions with patients, focusing on enhancing their emotional well-being and creating a more positive healthcare experience. This session aims to equip healthcare professionals with the skills needed to better understand and communicate with patients living with dementia. As a result of attending this session, you will:  

 (NE-MSD Nursing Credits & NASW-RI Credits applied for)*

C-2: Building Workforce Resiliency - Tony Coccitto, President, Recruitment Marketing & Branding, Eklego Workforce Solutions, and Kate Hancock, MBA, SPHR, CPSP, Director of Human Resources, Saint Elizabeth Community
Finding and keeping mission-minded staff has typically been a challenge for senior living organizations through the years. With today's elevated staffing challenges, the pressure is mounting for everyone who is caring for the most vulnerable. These challenges bring opportunities to attract people who desire to work with a purpose and mission. Join Tony Coccitto from Eklego Workforce Solutions and Kate Hancock from St. Elizabeth Community for a discussion on how providers can develop a recruitment and hiring system to effectively build and sustain their workforce. This session will:

C-3: More Than a Logo: Steps for Discovering Your Organization's Brand - Jessica Ruhle, Sales & Account Director, Creating Results 
 A brand is so much more than a logo and business cards: It’s the core of who your organization is and how your audience perceives you. Done right, branding will help you harness and leverage your organization’s strengths, better meet the needs of your key audiences, and enhance your competitive advantage in the market. So where do you start? In this session, you will learn how to embark on a branding project, identify the stakeholders needed, estimate the investment of time and research required, scale your approach depending on your organization’s needs and size, and determine the deliverables needed, including the visual identity package. We’ll walk through a rebranding journey as a case study and discuss how to flexibly scale the approach for smaller organizations with limited resources. By the end of this session, you will: