Wednesday, 7:30am - 8:30am  General Session

1)  Welcome to the 2026 Annual Conference & Expo: Changemakers - Setting the Vision for What's Next   1 CEU

Jaime Roberts, MPH, LNHA, ALM  |  Chief Executive Officer, Arizona LeadingAge

The field of aging services is navigating powerful crosswinds—demographic shifts, public policy changes, economic pressures, evolving consumer expectations, and rapidly advancing technology. As we open the 2026 LeadingAge State Conference, Jaime Roberts will share LeadingAge’s priorities and strategies for navigating this complex landscape, including how LeadingAge and its state partners can work together for greater collective impact.

This keynote will highlight the role of courageous, forward-thinking leadership in shaping what comes next for aging services. By challenging the status quo, rethinking systems, and embracing collaboration, leaders across the field can strengthen care, expand access, and drive innovation.

Together, we will reflect on the bold spirit fueling change in aging services and invite attendees to lean into new ideas, meaningful partnerships, and practical solutions that move our field forward. While the work ahead is challenging, the opportunity to create lasting impact has never been greater.

Session Objectives:

• Describe key demographic, policy, economic, and technological headwinds impacting the aging services field.
• Explain how shifts in the aging U.S. population influence service demand, care delivery models, and organizational planning in aging services.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration among LeadingAge, state partners, and aligned organizations to improve access, quality, and sustainability of services for older adults.

Wednesday, 9:00am - 10:00am   General Session

2)  Changemakers in Action: Honoring Leadership Shaping the Future of Aging Services  1 CEU

Jaime Roberts, MPH, LNHA, ALM  |  Chief Executive Officer, Arizona LeadingAge

As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we pause to celebrate the individuals shaping the future of aging services through vision, courage, and purposeful leadership. This Annual Awards session honors changemakers who are advancing the mission and values of their organizations to deliver high-quality care, housing, and services for older adults across Arizona.

These leaders push beyond traditional boundaries—strengthening their teams, embracing innovation, improving clinical quality, and championing the workforce that makes it all possible. Their impact is felt not only within their organizations, but across communities and the broader aging services continuum.

Our collective power grows through sharing, learning, and collaboration. Join us as we recognize those leading change with intention and hear insights from award recipients whose best practices in leadership, innovation, workforce development, and advocacy are redefining what’s possible in aging services.

Session Objectives:

• Identify leadership behaviors and organizational strategies demonstrated by award recipients that drive innovation, workforce stability, and quality outcomes in aging services settings.
• Analyze how changemaker approaches to leadership, collaboration, and advocacy address operational and regulatory challenges faced by senior living and long-term care organizations.
• Apply at least one best practice shared by award honorees to enhance leadership effectiveness, organizational culture, or service delivery within their own organization.

Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:00pm  Breakout Session

3)  Emergency Readiness: Integrating Technology and Training in Senior Living   1.5 CEUs

Jim Staed,  HA, MBA, ARM, AINS  |  Vice President, EPIC Senior Living

This session explores how senior living communities can strengthen emergency preparedness by integrating modern technology with comprehensive staff training. Participants will examine tools such as mass notification systems, digital incident tracking, and mobile coordination platforms, alongside best practices for drills, simulations, and scenario-based learning. By combining innovation with education, organizations can build a proactive culture of safety that protects residents, empowers staff, and ensures regulatory compliance.

Session 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.

Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:00pm  Breakout Session

4)  Marketing Humanity in the Age of AI   1.5 CEUs

Nathalie Warner  |  Content Strategy Manager, Angell Marketing

Michelle Young Hubacher  |  Senior Director, Audience Insights & Content Strategy, Angell Marketing

Senior living professionals understand the importance of connection. We’ll share how to layer resident life experience and storytelling over AI-sourced data/market research to produce human-centered messaging – messaging that is core to connecting with prospects. We’ll cover how to structure focus groups, photo/video shoots, and content expeditions to convey authentic connection.

Session Objectives:

• Practice techniques for asking deeper, more meaningful questions to uncover consumer motivations and needs.
• Strengthen** active listening skills to improve understanding and insight during consumer interactions.
• Apply these insights to strategic marketing plans to build more authentic, trust-based connections with consumers.

Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:00pm  Breakout Session

5)  Smart, Secure, Measurable: Driving Health Outcomes through Responsible AI and Data Analysis   1.5 CEUs

Dr. Eric Luster,  PhD, MBA  |  Chairman of the Board, Seniors Rising Homes, Inc.

Explore “The Future of Senior Living” through applied AI, rigorous data collection & analysis, and tangible healthcare outcomes. Attendees will see how on-site Hybrid TeleHealth/TeleDentistry, AI-enhanced fall detection, and remote patient monitoring generate clinically useful datasets that drive chronic-disease management, reduce avoidable ER transfers, and close access gaps.

Session Objectives:

•  Map an end-to-end data pipeline for RPM, TeleHealth, and sensor inputs. 
•  Define KPIs linking AI interventions to resident health outcomes. 
•  Select AI fall-detection solutions using clinical and operational criteria. 
•  Build a dashboard that surfaces leading indicators of decline. 
•  Design a pilot protocol with IRB/academic partners for validation. 
•  Implement multilingual, culturally responsive tech onboarding for residents. 
•  Create a “digital divide” mitigation plan (devices, Wi-Fi, training, support). 
•  Establish cybersecurity monitoring for TeleHealth and IoT ecosystems. 
•  Integrate TeleDentistry data into unified resident health records. 
•  Align AI projects with Social Determinants of Health priorities. 
•  Calculate ROI using avoided costs and quality metrics. 
•  Operationalize lighting/sleep interventions with measurable targets. 
•  Train staff to interpret analytics and act within scope. 
•  Identify key equity gaps in low-income senior housing 
•  Discuss best practices across telehealth, cognitive health, AI safety, and operations 
•  Apply person-centered design methods to boost adoption and trust 
•  Evaluate privacy, security, and bias risks in AI tools 
• Adapt low-income-proven solutions to market-rate communities
  

Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:00pm  Breakout Session

6)  AI Made Simple: Practical, Hands-On Learning for Long-Term Care Teams   1.5 CEUs

Chris Blomquist,  RN, BSN  |  Vice President, Clinical and AI Strategy, Advanced Health Institute / Dovaxis

An AI workshop made for LTC professionals, not programmers. Bring your device and get hands-on with guided exercises that turn real long-term care challenges into practical AI solutions—simpler policies, clearer family updates, and quick CMS data visuals. Interactive, accessible, and perfect for beginners.

Session Objectives:

• Practice using AI tools to summarize, translate, and visualize real healthcare data.
• Learn how to write structured, clear prompts that produce reliable results.
• Apply AI techniques to real-life LTC tasks like family communication, policy simplification, and visualizing complex data

Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:00pm  Breakout Session

7)  Integrating Alzheimer’s Precision Medicine with Human Connection: The Future of High-Tech, High-Touch Care   1.5 CEUs

Dani Cabral,  MD  |  CEO and Medical Director, BrainLove

This session explores how optimal Alzheimer’s care integrates both precision medicine with the psychosocial-spiritual-relational. Participants will examine why traditional systems overlook psychosocial and relational needs, how grief can catalyze growth, and provide a model that blend high-tech innovation with high-touch healing to redefine excellence, sustainability, and hope in care of Alzheimer's and related diseases.

Session Objectives:

• Explain how most Alzheimer’s care impact lies in psychosocial-spiritual-relational domains though the medical aspects of care remain essential.
• Identify system and training gaps that leave neurologists unprepared to meet holistic care needs.
• Reframe grief as a gateway to meaning, adaptation, and continued growth.
• Differentiate and integrate high-tech and high-touch approaches for better outcomes and satisfaction, using the BrainLove model to illustrate sustainable, whole-person, possibility-focused Alzheimer’s care.

Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:00pm  Breakout Session

8)  Workforce Resilience in Senior Care: Strategies to Tackle the Staffing Crisis and Build Long-Term Solutions   1.5 CEUs

Shan Fiske  |  Senior Vice President, AssuredPartners A Gallagher Company

Senior care providers face an unprecedented staffing crisis that threatens care quality, organizational stability, and employee well-being. Addressing these challenges demands long-term workforce resilience strategies. This workshop will share actionable solutions to tackle today’s staffing shortages while building sustainable pipelines of engaged resilient caregivers for the future. Attendees will leave with a roadmap to foster workforce stability, reduce risks, and strengthen care delivery in senior living communities

Session Objectives:

• Understand the dynamics behind workforce challenges in senior care, including labor shortages, burnout, turnover, and emerging risks.
• Reveal how integrated solutions (benefits, training, risk management) can create a sustainable workforce pipeline. (TCOR Whitepaper)
• Empower attendees with practical tools to implement proactive, human-centric workforce strategies in their organizations.

Wednesday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm  Breakout Session

9)  Board Leadership Lab:  Greystone 1 CEU

More information coming soon

Wednesday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm  Breakout Session

10)  The Impact of Movement and Exercise on the Brain   1 CEU

Lorrie Karn,  M.Psy. (Doctoral Candidate)  |  Director of Benefitness, Benevilla

In this workshop you will learn the connection between exercise and movement and how that impacts brain health. Learn exercises and health tips to improve brain health and reduce daily symptoms and progression rates of dementia. You will leave this workshop feeling energized and ready to help those with dementia.

Session Objectives:

• You will learn how physical activity enhances brain function
• You will learn how lifestyle habits impact memory and cognitive function
• You will learn how stress impacts brain function
• You will learn why the 8-dimensions of wellness impact brain health

Wednesday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm  Breakout Session

11)  Leadership Fatigue: The Hidden Threat to Employee Engagement and Retention   1 CEU

Ronny Morris,  BS, PHR, aPHR, HRBP  |  Human Resources Manager, Fellowship Square Tucson

Leadership fatigue—marked by emotional exhaustion and reduced motivation—impacts team engagement, productivity, and retention. This session explores its causes, signs, and effects, offering practical strategies to build resilience and sustain leadership effectiveness. Attendees will gain actionable tools to foster healthier, more engaged workplaces where both leaders and teams thrive.

Session Objectives:

• Define leadership fatigue and recognize its signs and symptoms.
• Understand the connection between leader burnout, employee engagement, and retention rates.
• Identify organizational risk factors that contribute to leadership fatigue.
• Implement practical strategies to prevent fatigue and strengthen leadership resilience.
• Develop actionable takeaways for supporting leaders at all levels.

Wednesday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm  Breakout Session

12)  SNF Star Power: Proven Strategies to Improve Quality Outcomes and CMS Star Ratings   1 CEU

Deborah Koval,  FNP-C  |  Director of Operations, Curana Health

Kelly Hamilton   |  Vice President of Operations, Curana Health

Bryan Ahearn   |  Vice President of Growth, Curana Heatlh

With dementia diagnoses in the U.S. projected to nearly double by 2060 (JAMA Network, Feb. 2025), many senior living operators are turning to innovative technologies, proven strategies, and value-based care solutions to improve health outcomes and enable residents facing cognitive decline to age in place longer. 

During this panel, representatives will discuss the benefits of these new innovations in dementia care, including dementia-informed design features that reduce confusion and enhance safety, in-room technologies that passively monitor vital signs, on-site healthcare services that offer 24/7 access to clinicians, emerging care frameworks (like CMS’s Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience Model), and more.

Session Objectives:

• Examine the latest data surrounding rising dementia rates and anticipated trends.
• Gain an understanding of the latest innovations in dementia care that are improving health outcomes, resident/family satisfaction, and aging in place.
• Hear success stories from senior living operators who have implemented these leading strategies, technologies, and care models.

Wednesday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm  Breakout Session

13) Updates from the Attorney General’s Office - Shane Ham

More Information Coming Soon

Wednesday, 1:45pm - 2:45pm  Breakout Session

14) AHCCCS - Behavioral Health & Home and Community-Based Services Update 1 CEU

A focused session for providers serving older adults within behavioral health and home and community-based settings, providing updates on access, service coordination, and key developments within the behavioral health environment.

Session Objectives:

• Identify recent policy, regulatory, and programmatic updates impacting behavioral health and home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults.
• Explain current processes for access, eligibility, and service coordination within Arizona’s behavioral health system.
• Apply strategies to strengthen provider collaboration and improve care outcomes for older adults receiving behavioral health and HCBS supports.

Wednesday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm  Breakout Session

15)  Board Leadership Lab:  Greystone 1 CEU

More information coming soon

Wednesday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm  Breakout Session

16)  Respite In Student Engagement (RISE): A Pilot Program for ASU Students Providing Paid Respite to Hospice of the Valley’s Supportive Care for Dementia Patients   1 CEU

Kylee Volk,  MPH  |  Associate Team Leader - Supportive Care for Dementia, Hospice of the Valley

Nour Hassan  |  RISE Student Coordinator, Arizona State University

RISE is a pilot program connecting Arizona State University students with Hospice of the Valley’s Supportive Care for Dementia patients to provide affordable respite care for $20/hour. Research and surveys assess the program’s outcomes, demonstrating the impact of experiential learning with aging demographics on students entering pre-health fields

Session Objectives:

• Understand the urgent need for low-cost respite care for caregivers of persons living with dementia
• Identify the benefits and challenges of student-led respite programs for families, individuals with dementia, and student caregivers
• Discuss research findings from surveys evaluating the impact of RISE on families receiving care and student caregivers participating in the program
• Explore how similar programs can be developed state-wide or nationwide

Wednesday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm  Breakout Session

17)  Stop Chasing Overtime: A Practical Playbook to Keep Communities Fully Staffed   1 CEU

Matt Strange  |  Chief Operating Officer, ProcareHR

Chronic OT, agency reliance, and last-minute schedule scrambles drain margin and morale. This session gives senior living leaders a simple, repeatable workforce system you can stand up in weeks. We’ll cover demand-based scheduling, float-pool design for small and mid-size communities, premium-shift rules that don’t invite OT creep, and “coverage scorecards” that keep everyone honest. You’ll leave with a checklist, sample policies, and a one-page rollout plan you can tailor for your community.

Session Objectives:

• Map current-state coverage drivers and set a realistic agency-reduction target.
• Stand up a basic float pool and premium-shift framework without new tools.
• Use a weekly labor scorecard to improve fill rate, retention, and OT cost.

Wednesday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm  Breakout Session

18)  From Reactive to Proactive: How AI Makes the Shift Possible in Senior Living   1 CEU

Sandro Cilurzo, BSc  |  CEO & Co-Founder, Helpany Inc.

Paul Sheston, JD, MBA  |  Founder & Lead Trial Attorney, Sheston Law Group, PLLC

Tawnya Williams-Christensen,  CDCM, CADDCT, PAC, ALM  |  Assisted Living Director, Fellowship Square Mesa

For decades, senior living could only react—doing its best after events occurred. Now, AI makes proactive care, management, and compliance achievable. A leading innovator, operator, and liability attorney explain why and how this shift delivers measurable results: fewer falls, fewer 911 calls, healthier teams, reduced overtime, stronger financials, and lower liability risks.

Session Objectives:

• Differentiate between reactive and proactive care models in senior living and explain how AI enables earlier risk identification and intervention.
• Identify practical ways AI-generated insights can be integrated into daily care, operational, and compliance workflows to improve safety and efficiency.
• Describe how proactive, AI-supported practices can reduce liability exposure and support evolving standards of care from a legal and compliance perspective.
• Apply leadership and culture-building strategies that support staff adoption of AI tools and sustain proactive behaviors across teams.
• Evaluate the organizational impact of proactive operations, including effects on resident outcomes, staff confidence, operational performance, and financial stability.

Wednesday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm  Breakout Session

19)  Skilled Nursing Facilities - To IDR or Not to IDR: That is the Question   1 CEU

Robert Lightfoot,  JD, RN  |  Attorney/Partner, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren sc Law Firm

The decision to IDR is not an easy one. Consider: citation severity and type, short timeframe to submit, strength of your evidence and the time involved in preparing and submitting an IDR when you also are writing a Plan of Correction and making corrections. In this session, we'll discuss IDR statistics, evaluating a citation for IDR, special considerations for immediate jeopardy violations, what is IIDR, and the federal appeals process.

Session Objectives:

• Weigh the considerations for IDR
• Evaluate what constitutes good rebutting evidence for an IDR
• Learn how best to present an IDR for review
• Learn about the special considerations for immediate jeopardy citations
• Learn about the federal appeals process

Wednesday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm  Breakout Session

20)  Leading Through Turnover: Operational Strategies to Strengthen Dining Performance and Resident Satisfaction   1 CEU

Uwe Rudnick   |  Regional Dining Director, Greystone

Andrew Leech  |  Corporate Vice President, Greystone

Dining operations are among the most visible reflections of a community’s culture—and among the most impacted by workforce turnover. This session shares practical strategies to sustain quality and resident satisfaction through training, operational consistency, and innovation. Case studies from new and established communities show how management uses resident surveys, inclusive menu development, and generational awareness to strengthen trust and performance.

Session Objectives:

• Apply leadership training, cultural training and structured operational systems to maintain quality despite staffing challenges. 

• Strengthen staff-resident connection through intergenerational engagement training, inclusive menu development, and integration of dining services into Lifestyles programming 

• Use measurable outcomes—such as resident surveys—to foster accountability, belonging, and continuous improvement.

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