Conference Agenda
Morning Session
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration & Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM I Keynote Session - LeAnn Thieman – The Heart of Care: Inspiring and Retaining a Thriving Assisted Living Team
We are honored to welcome LeAnn Thieman, Nurse, Author, and Hall of Fame Speaker, as our keynote presenter. With more than 40 years of nursing experience and as co-author of Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul, LeAnn brings a powerful blend of inspiration and practical wisdom to the caregiving profession. Her heartfelt message focuses on building resilient teams, finding balance in the demanding world of assisted living, and reigniting the passion at the heart of care.
LeAnn’s extraordinary story—including her heroic role in the Vietnam Orphan Airlift—has been featured on BBC, NPR, PBS, FOX News, and Newsweek. Don’t miss this unforgettable session designed to uplift, energize, and empower your entire team.
Book Signing & Networking to follow
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Session 1: Staffing Strong: Strategies for Hiring, Keeping & Supporting Your Team-A fun and interactive, rotational workshop. We will be covering 4 interactive table segments, each about 10 minutes long, then rotate. We’re all facing staffing stress — let’s crowdsource and connect on solutions that work.
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Table 1: Recruit Like a Pro: Smart hiring strategies, Rachel Robertson, Owner/Administrator of Turnberry Place Assisted Living and Elevated Assisted Living Consulting
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Table 2: First Impressions Matter: Onboarding & training—Janet Cornell, Senior Care Administrator Coaching LLC
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Table 3: Culture that Clicks: Engagement & retention - (TBD)
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Table 4: Burnout Busters: Preventing turnover (TBD)
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Break
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Session 2: Safer Med Passing, Happier Residents: Using AI to Reduce Med Errors, Adam Aisen, ECP CEO
Medication administration is one of the top deficiencies cited during surveys—and one of the most high-risk areas in assisted living. With residents often on a dozen or more meds, managing complex schedules and dosages can be overwhelming. In this session, explore how AI-powered tools are transforming medication safety by reducing human error, flagging risks in real time, and streamlining workflows. Learn how cutting-edge innovations in eMAR systems are helping communities deliver safer, smarter care.
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Understand the Role of AI in Med Management: Explore how AI supports staff in managing high volumes of medications, improving safety and outcomes.
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Identify Key AI Features: Learn how features like PRN monitoring, duplicate med detection, and controlled substance tracking help prevent common errors.
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Evaluate Clinical Impact: Discover how AI tools enhance compliance, reduce risk, and support healthier, happier residents.
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM | Lunch & Networking
Afternoon Session
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM | Session 3: Understanding and Managing Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia, Dr. Danielle Whitacre, Chief Medical Officer at Bloom Healthcare
Behavioral symptoms such as aggression, agitation, wandering, and resistance to care are common—and challenging—expressions of dementia. In this session, Dr. Danielle Whitacre, Chief Medical Officer at Bloom Healthcare, will provide practical, evidence-based strategies to identify root causes and manage behaviors compassionately and effectively. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the clinical, environmental, and emotional factors that influence behavior and learn tools to support both residents and staff in dementia care.
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Recognize Common Behavioral Symptoms: Identify typical behavioral changes associated with dementia and their potential triggers.
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Understand Underlying Causes: Explore how unmet needs, medical conditions, and environmental factors contribute to behavioral expressions.
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Implement Person-Centered Strategies: Learn actionable approaches to prevent, de-escalate, and manage behaviors while promoting dignity and safety.
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Break
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Session 4: Life Safety & Survey Readiness, Bryan Adams, Fire Inspector and Unit Chief at the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), where he leads the Residential Health Care Program.
Compliance Made Easy: Preparing for Success. From fire safety systems to emergency preparedness, life safety is a critical part of survey readiness—and one of the most commonly cited areas during inspections. In this session, Bryan Adams, Fire Inspector and Unit Chief at the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), will share key insights from the state’s Residential Health Care Program. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of CDPHE Chapter 7 requirements, the most common life safety deficiencies, and proactive strategies to ensure you're always ready when surveyors arrive.
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Understand Life Safety Compliance: Get clarity on how Chapter 7 regulations impact your community’s safety systems and environment.
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Prepare for Surveys with Confidence: Discover practical tips for documentation, walkthroughs, and avoiding last-minute surprises.
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Avoid Common Deficiencies: Learn the top pitfalls DFPC sees during inspections—and how to stay ahead of them.
Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness with Peak10
Join Byron Walker, CEO & Founder of Peak10 Emergency, as he highlights practical tools for elevating your emergency readiness. From comprehensive Senior Evacuation Kits to customizable solutions that meet CDPHE standards, Peak10 offers scalable options for keeping your residents safe and your community compliant.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Q&A Panel, Vendor Giveaways, Closing Remarks and Video
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