Planetary Science - Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) - Free Activity Event
2025-07-10 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
About EELS (Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor)
EELS is designed to go places no one has ever seen before, on its own, without real-time human input. The concept for this self-propelled, autonomous robot was inspired by the desire to descend the narrow, geyser-spewing vents in the icy crust of Saturn’s moon Enceladus in order to look for signs of life in the ocean below.

Talk Description: Our solar system is host to many ocean worlds – moons of Jupiter and Saturn, among others, that have liquid water oceans underneath crusts of ice. These worlds may hold clues to the origin of life on Earth, and whether or not life may be unique or ubiquitous in the universe. At the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, we like to dare mighty things, and we have built and tested a new robotic design capable of exploring the surfaces and icy depths of these ocean worlds. In this presentation, Dr. Morgan Cable will summarize the development of the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS), culminating in a field expedition to a glacier in Canada, and discuss lessons learned along the way.
Speaker: Dr. Morgan Cable (NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Morgan Cable is the Science Lead for the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) concept and Acting Principal Investigator of the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) Instrument aboard the Mars 2020 (Perseverance) rover. She has worked on the Cassini Mission, is a Co-Investigator of the Dragonfly mission to Titan, and is serving multiple roles on Europa Clipper. Dr. Cable’s research focuses on organic and biomarker detection, through both in situ and remote sensing techniques. She has designed receptor sites for the detection of bacterial spores, the toughest form of life, and developed novel protocols to analyze organic molecules using small, portable microfluidic sensors. Currently, Dr. Cable performs laboratory experiments to study the unique organic chemistry of Titan. She also conducts fieldwork in extreme environments on Earth, searching for life in places such as the Atacama Desert, ice fields at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, fumarole-generated ice caves of the Mount Meager Volcano in Canada, lava fields of Iceland, and cold CO2 geysers of Green River, Utah.
WebEx Connection Info:

Join from the webinar link: https://nasaenterprise.webex.com/nasaenterprise/j.php?MTID=mf33642b7bd633e07b9ba0f190dfdb777

You may need to select the “join from your browser” option

Webinar number (access code): 2829 939 1623
Webinar password: [REDACTED] (56775280 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by phone: +1-415-527-5035

Planetary Defense - DART Mission - Free Activity Event
2025-07-31 18:00 - 19:00
DART: Double Asteroid Redirection Test—The First Planetary Defense Test Mission
Talk Description: NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission was a groundbreaking planetary defense experiment designed to test if we could actually “nudge” an asteroid off course. Imagine a small spacecraft, about the size of a golf cart, deliberately crashing into an asteroid in space. That’s essentially what DART did! Its target was Dimorphos, a small moonlet orbiting a larger asteroid named Didymos, neither of which posed any threat to Earth. By intentionally smashing into Dimorphos at incredible speeds in September 2022, DART successfully changed the moonlet’s orbital period around its larger companion by 33 minutes—far exceeding expectations. This historic impact proved that the “kinetic impactor” technique, where a spacecraft directly collides with an asteroid, is a viable method to potentially alter the trajectory of a hazardous asteroid, giving us a vital tool in protecting our planet should a dangerous one ever be headed our way.
Speaker: Dr. Ramin Lolachi (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Ramin Lolachi is a planetary scientist working for the University of Maryland, Baltimore Co. (UMBC) based at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center. He was part of the DART Investigation Team and used images of the impact, taken by the Italian Space Agency’s LICIACube spacecraft as it flew past, to measure how much mass was ejected. His research interests include looking at dust on airless bodies like the Moon and asteroids (more interesting than you think!) and looking for water in the atmosphere of Mars.
Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 267 145 142 081 9
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 394 308 012#)

Free Learning Webinar - Bespoke Psychiatry presents: Challenging the Stigma: How Nursing Home Staff Can Advocate for Mental Health Care
2025-08-20 13:00 - 14:00 | https://meet.google.com/qbz-wabi-ibf
Please join us on Wednesday, August 20th at 1pm for a webinar facilitated by Dr. Krushen Pillay, DO, Board Certified Adult and Geriatric Psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer at Bespoke Psychiatry. He will be presenting on how to advocate for long term care residents to engage mental health and psychiatric services.
Join us each 3rd Wednesday of the month for our monthly webinar series:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qbz-wabi-ibf
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 754-702-3137 PIN: ‪501 812 005#

Join Here

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qbz-wabi-ibf?pin=7778447725451

Planetary Science - High-Level Mars Update - Free Activity Event
2025-08-28 18:00 - 19:00
Talk Title: Robots and the Red Planet: NASA’s Explorers on Mars
Talk Description: NASA’s robotic fleet, including orbiters, landers and rovers, have enabled key science discoveries on Mars over the course of 60 years. From Mariner 4’s first flyby in 1965 to the Ingenuity helicopter’s historic first flight in 2021, NASA spacecraft have changed our understanding of Mars’ past and present conditions. Questions about Mars continue to drive NASA’s present and future mission plans, including whether life ever took hold on the Red Planet, and whether human explorers will one day take the first steps on Mars.
Speaker: Sarah Marcotte (NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Speaker Bio:

Sarah Marcotte is the NASA STEM Engagement Network group lead, based at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She leads NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors Program, managing a U.S. nationwide network of 1,240 volunteer ambassadors who engage communities across classrooms, museums, planetariums, and media with the latest in space exploration and discoveries.
Prior to this role, Sarah was the public engagement lead for the Mars Exploration Program. She worked with museums and planetariums across the country on exhibits and programs relating to Mars, organizing live and virtual events for the media and the public to make complex mission details engaging and accessible to everyone.

Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 213 242 567 653 3
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 114 544 196#)

Webinar: DEMENTIA CARE 101: Delusions, Hallucinations and Hoarding: When is it Time to Engage?
2025-08-29 09:00 - 10:00 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/webinar-dementia-care-101-delusions-hallucinations-and-hoarding-when-is-it-time-to-engage/
Join Carrie Chiusano as she shares her expertise from working at a Dementia Care Center of Excellence, focusing on how to effectively assist individuals living with dementia who experience delusions and hallucinations. Learn the importance of balancing your own reality and entering into theirs to provide compassionate and effective care.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the diverse spectrum of dementia and cognitive decline to enhance diagnostic awareness and intervention planning.
2. Examine the symptoms, progression patterns, and underlying causes of various dementia types, distinguishing normal aging processes from the early signs of Alzheimer’s and related conditions.
3. Discover evidence-based strategies for common challenges faced by individuals and caregivers in effectively supporting residents experiencing cognitive decline.
About the Presenter:
Carrie has 30 plus years of long-term care experience with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, most of which have been dedicated to creating and evolving the Woodside Place Philosophy of specialty care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Prior to being appointed Executive Director for the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence in January 2016, Carrie served as the Administrator for Woodside Place of Oakmont, which opened in 1991 and was one of the nation’s first dementia-specific residential care communities specifically designed to meet the holistic needs of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. She was instrumental in championing the Culture Change initiative for the Network, which led to us becoming CARF accredited in 2011 (ongoing accreditation through 2024) in Person Centered Care.
As Executive Director, Carrie is responsible for the integration of dementia care services across the care and service continuum which comprise the Network. In this role, Carrie:
• Champions dementia care program development to offer a uniquely innovative and meaningful compendium of options for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The result is a vibrant and fluid interactions which are both personalized by for the individuals while assuring consistent quality across the continuum.
• Plans and implements ongoing educational sessions which ensure every team member, at every level of the organization has the deep and rich knowledge and competencies to meet the holistic needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships to support the Network in our goal of enhancing the quality of life both for the individuals impacted by the disease as well as family caregivers supporting those living with the disease.
Carrie is the Champion for: the Network’s Dementia Care Integration team, CARF accreditation in Dementia Care and the creation of the Dementia Care Center of Excellence: Expanding our Reach through the Center for Innovation and Care Transformation. In addition to her service on numerous industry association boards, Carrie is a certified trainer for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners in dementia care.
Approved for 1 PC CEU: TA-015-42-26DL

Webinar: DEMENTIA CARE 101: Strategies to Assist the Aging Adult with Sensory Changes
2025-09-09 09:00 - 10:00 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/webinar-dementia-care-101-strategies-to-assist-the-aging-adult-with-sensory-changes/
In this session, Carrie Chiusano will leverage her expertise from Dementia Care Centers of Excellence to help caregivers distinguish between normal aging and aging with a dementia diagnosis to apply best practices navigating the environment. Those with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementias often experience sensory stimuli differently or more intensely as their condition progresses, and may not be able to identify or communicate needs effectively. Understanding these differences is crucial for providing appropriate care and support to aging individuals in memory care.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the diverse spectrum of dementia and cognitive decline to enhance diagnostic awareness and intervention planning.
2. Examine the symptoms, progression patterns, and underlying causes of various dementia types, distinguishing normal aging processes from the early signs of Alzheimer’s and related conditions.
3. Discover evidence-based strategies for common challenges faced by individuals and caregivers in effectively supporting residents experiencing cognitive decline.
About the Presenter:
Carrie has 30 plus years of long-term care experience with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, most of which have been dedicated to creating and evolving the Woodside Place Philosophy of specialty care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Prior to being appointed Executive Director for the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence in January 2016, Carrie served as the Administrator for Woodside Place of Oakmont, which opened in 1991 and was one of the nation’s first dementia-specific residential care communities specifically designed to meet the holistic needs of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. She was instrumental in championing the Culture Change initiative for the Network, which led to us becoming CARF accredited in 2011 (ongoing accreditation through 2024) in Person Centered Care.
As Executive Director, Carrie is responsible for the integration of dementia care services across the care and service continuum which comprise the Network. In this role, Carrie:
• Champions dementia care program development to offer a uniquely innovative and meaningful compendium of options for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The result is a vibrant and fluid interactions which are both personalized by for the individuals while assuring consistent quality across the continuum.
• Plans and implements ongoing educational sessions which ensure every team member, at every level of the organization has the deep and rich knowledge and competencies to meet the holistic needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships to support the Network in our goal of enhancing the quality of life both for the individuals impacted by the disease as well as family caregivers supporting those living with the disease.
Carrie is the Champion for: the Network’s Dementia Care Integration team, CARF accreditation in Dementia Care and the creation of the Dementia Care Center of Excellence: Expanding our Reach through the Center for Innovation and Care Transformation. In addition to her service on numerous industry association boards, Carrie is a certified trainer for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners in dementia care.
Approved for 1 PC CEU: TA-015-42-26DL

Free Learning event: AI and Tech Trends in Senior Living @ John Knox Village
2025-09-16 15:00 - 18:30 | Meadows at John Knox Village, 1800 NW O'Brien Road, Lees Summit, MO, 64081, United States
AI and Tech Trends in Senior Living
Summary
AI is reshaping senior living by automating tasks, improving resident engagement, and enhancing predictive care. This session provides expert insights into AI trends, governance, and ethical considerations to help leaders make informed decisions. Participants will learn how AI can optimize operations, personalize resident experiences, and maintain data security and compliance. By embracing AI and technology strategically, senior living communities can drive efficiency while ensuring ethical and responsible implementation.
Learning Objectives

Analyze current AI and emerging tech trends including falls prevention, robotics, and resident monitoring and their impact on senior living operations and care delivery.
Evaluate governance and ethical considerations to ensure responsible tech adoption and compliance.
Develop strategies for implementing AI solutions that enhance efficiency while maintaining human oversight and trust.

Sponsored by Value 1st!
Join us for a fellowship event after the education from 5pm-6:30pm @ John Knox Village
Sponsored by: Symbria and U.S. Foods Hosted by: John Knox Village

Webinar: DEMENTIA CARE 101: The Emotional Needs of Persons Living with Dementia (& Tips for a Successful Holiday Season!)
2025-10-23 09:00 - 10:00 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/webinar-dementia-care-101-the-emotional-needs-of-persons-living-with-dementia-tips-for-a-successful-holiday-season/
Join Carrie Chiusano as she draws on her extensive experience as a Dementia Care Specialist to explore the critical aspects of communication and the environment influencing the behavioral symptoms of dementia, especially around holidays and special events. Discover how meaningful engagement not only enhances the lives of individuals living with dementia but also benefits their caregivers. Learn practical strategies for creating positive interactions and improving overall well-being as you prepare for the holiday season festivities with memory care residents.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the diverse spectrum of dementia and cognitive decline to enhance diagnostic awareness and intervention planning.
2. Examine the symptoms, progression patterns, and underlying causes of various dementia types, distinguishing normal aging processes from the early signs of Alzheimer’s and related conditions.
3. Discover evidence-based strategies for common challenges faced by individuals and caregivers in effectively supporting residents experiencing cognitive decline.
About the Presenter:
Carrie has 30 plus years of long-term care experience with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, most of which have been dedicated to creating and evolving the Woodside Place Philosophy of specialty care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Prior to being appointed Executive Director for the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence in January 2016, Carrie served as the Administrator for Woodside Place of Oakmont, which opened in 1991 and was one of the nation’s first dementia-specific residential care communities specifically designed to meet the holistic needs of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. She was instrumental in championing the Culture Change initiative for the Network, which led to us becoming CARF accredited in 2011 (ongoing accreditation through 2024) in Person Centered Care.
As Executive Director, Carrie is responsible for the integration of dementia care services across the care and service continuum which comprise the Network. In this role, Carrie:
• Champions dementia care program development to offer a uniquely innovative and meaningful compendium of options for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The result is a vibrant and fluid interactions which are both personalized by for the individuals while assuring consistent quality across the continuum.
• Plans and implements ongoing educational sessions which ensure every team member, at every level of the organization has the deep and rich knowledge and competencies to meet the holistic needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships to support the Network in our goal of enhancing the quality of life both for the individuals impacted by the disease as well as family caregivers supporting those living with the disease.
Carrie is the Champion for: the Network’s Dementia Care Integration team, CARF accreditation in Dementia Care and the creation of the Dementia Care Center of Excellence: Expanding our Reach through the Center for Innovation and Care Transformation. In addition to her service on numerous industry association boards, Carrie is a certified trainer for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners in dementia care.
Approved for 1 PC CEU: TA-015-42-26DL

2025 Hands-On Caregiver Virtual Micro-Conference
2025-11-13 08:00 - 17:15 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/2025-hands-on-caregiver-virtual-micro-conference/
Practical, people-first learning for your frontline caregivers
Presented by LeadingAge Missouri and LeadingAge Kansas
Choose the time that fits your team best:

Morning Session: 8:00 AM – 12:15 PM CT
Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM – 5:15 PM CT

The Hands-On Caregiver Virtual Conference delivers half-day, interactive training created specifically for direct-care team members in senior living and long-term-care communities. Each session provides practical tools to strengthen communication, documentation, empathy, and leadership on the front line of care. Both sessions feature the same content — simply choose the time that works best for your schedule.
Pro Tip: Buildings are encouraged to register multiple caregivers… one group for the morning and another for the afternoon, to ensure full team participation.

Registration Options

Individual Registration: $25
Building Registration (encouraged for groups of 12 or more attendees): $300
Non-Member: $50/person or $600/building

Morning & Afternoon Session Options
We encourage buildings to register multiple caregivers to attend. One way to send many caregivers through includes sending a group in the morning and a group to the afternoon.
Registrants are encouraged to attend either the morning or afternoon session entirely. It is not encouraged to attend some sessions in the morning and others in the afternoon. Share this Conference with Others on Your Team!

November 13, 2025
Morning Agenda

8:00-8:15 | Welcome & Housekeeping
8:15-9:30 | Dementia Care: Communication Through the Stages | Hollie Lowe, MA, LPC, NCC, James L. West Center for Dementia Care
9:30-9:40 | Break
9:40-10:20 | You Noticed, You Spoke Up, You Documented It: How Caregiver Documentation Impacts Lives and Outcomes | Treva Greaser, BSN, RN, CRRN, C-NE, LNHA, Treva Greaser Consulting
10:20-10:30 | Break
10:30-11:20 | Hospice 101: But I Don’t Work in Hospice! | Amy Hensley, MSN, RN, Before the Casket
11:20-12:00 | Leadership Keynote: Leading From Any Role | Karen Sturchio
12:00-12:15 | Closing & Housekeeping

Afternoon Agenda

1:00-1:15 | Welcome & Housekeeping
1:15-2:30 | Dementia Care: Communication Through the Stages | Hollie Lowe, MA, LPC, NCC, James L. West Center for Dementia Care
2:30-2:40 | Break
2:40-3:20 | You Noticed, You Spoke Up, You Documented It: How Caregiver Documentation Impacts Lives and Outcomes | Treva Greaser, BSN, RN, CRRN, C-NE, LNHA, Treva Greaser Consulting
3:20-3:30 | Break
3:30-4:20 | Hospice 101: But I Don’t Work in Hospice! | Amy Hensley, MSN, RN, Before the Casket
4:20-5:00 | Leadership Keynote: Leading From Any Role | Karen Sturchio
5:00-5:15 | Closing & Housekeeping

Continuing Education
This educational event is not approved for CE Credits for Administrators, Nurses, or otherwise. A Certificate of Completion will be provided to participants who complete an entire morning or afternoon session.
*Dates and Times are subject to change.

Registration Policy
Registration for the 2025 Hands-On Caregiver Virtual Conference includes digital handouts and tools for each of the sessions, connection(s) to the live conference (one connection per individual and one or multiple connections for buildings), and a Certificate of Attendance for each completed attendee. A recording of this conference is NOT included in the registration fee.
Cancellation Policies
Substitutions for events are always welcome. These individuals can be anyone employed on your campus, board members, resident family members, or residents. Substitutes must be made for the whole event.

PTSD and Behavioral Dysregulation: From Hyperarousal to Shutdown - Free Learning Webinar
2025-11-19 13:00 - 14:00
From our Business Member: Bespoke Psychiatry

In long-term care, up to one in five residents show trauma-related symptoms, yet these signs are often misread as dementia or resistance.
Join us for our upcoming webinar, PTSD and Behavioral Dysregulation: From Hyperarousal to Shutdown, to learn how you can improve care.
Date: November 19, 2025
Time: 1:00 pm
Speaker: Dr. Ahmed Maki, DO, Medical Director of Post-Acute Care and Inpatient Divisions

Join Here

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qbz-wabi-ibf
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 754-702-3137 PIN: ‪501 812 005#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qbz-wabi-ibf?pin=7778447725451.

LeadingAge Missouri Holiday Celebration
2025-12-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Evertrue Meramec Bluffs, 50 Meramec Bluffs Drive, Ballwin, MO, 63021, United States
Please join us for an evening of celebration, food, drinks, fellowship and auction!
This event happens because of our great supporters!
A special thank you to Tyler Milner at EverTrue Meramec Bluffs for your coordination!

Planetary Science - Tiny Moon, Big Questions - Free Activity Event
2025-12-17 18:00 - 19:00
Our next senior living community outreach event is scheduled for Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT. This is a rescheduling of our October event – please see below for additional details. I have also attached an updated schedule, including a new date for our cancelled November event.

Talk Title: “Tiny Moon, Big Questions: The Astrobiology of Enceladus”
Talk Description:

Saturn’s tiny icy moon Enceladus has become one of the most exciting places in the solar system in the search for life beyond Earth. Beneath its frozen crust lies a global subsurface ocean, venting water and organic compounds into space through dramatic geysers. Thanks to NASA’s Cassini spacecraft (1997-2017), which flew through these plumes, we know that Enceladus hosts the essential ingredients for life as we know it: liquid water, energy, and complex organic chemistry. But is there anything living in this distant world?

In this talk, NASA Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Erin Gibbons will explore the astrobiological potential of Enceladus, including how it was discovered, what Cassini revealed, and why scientists consider it one of the most promising places to search for extraterrestrial life. Along the way, we’ll connect Enceladus to the broader field of astrobiology (the study of life in the universe) and highlight future missions that could one day dive deeper into its hidden ocean.

Speaker: Dr. Erin Gibbons (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Erin F. Gibbons is an astrobiologist and organic geochemist whose research explores how organic molecules form, persist, and leave traces in extreme environments. She has conducted fieldwork in Antarctica and in glacial fields in Iceland to study planetary analogs, and she previously operated the Mars rover Perseverance as part of NASA’s mission science team. Dr. Gibbons earned her Ph.D. in Earth & Planetary Sciences from McGill University and is now a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she investigates the astrobiological potential of worlds like Mars and the icy moons of the outer solar system. She is also dedicated to science communication and inspiring the next generation of explorers.
Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 230 325 978 650 1
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 239 050 881#)

LeadingAge Missouri's 2026 Advocacy Day - Free Member Event
2026-02-18 10:30 - 17:00 | Millbottom Event Center, 400 W Main Street, Jefferson City, MO, 65101, United States
Please join us for our Annual Advocacy Day with LeadingAge Missouri.
10am-11:30am – Advocacy 101 (Approved for 1 Admin CEU TA#015-48-26)
11:30am-12:30pm – Lunch with Legislator (provided)
12:30pm-5:00pm – Capitol Visits (Transportation Provided) (Approved for 2 Admin CEU (TA# 015-48-26)

Thank you to our sponsors!

NASA Free Activity Learning Event - StarBurst: Gamma-Ray Hunter
2026-02-19 18:00 - 19:00
Talk Title: NASA’s StarBurst Mission
Talk Description: StarBurst is one of NASA’s new Pioneer-class missions and is designed to act as an all-sky monitor for powerful cosmic explosions across the universe. About the size of a small refrigerator when stowed for launch, this 650 lb. satellite will orbit Earth at an altitude of over 300 miles and continuously monitor the sky at gamma-ray wavelengths to catch the telltale sign of supernovae and collisions of neutron stars. StarBurst will use NASA’s constellation of communication satellites to send rapid alerts to astronomers around the world so they can immediately follow up on these detections. In this talk, Dr. Dan Kocevski will describe the scientific motivation for the mission as well as the process of building and preparing the spacecraft for launch.
Speaker: Dr. Daniel Kocevski (NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Daniel Kocevski is an astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center where he studies the universe using NASA’s suit of space-based observatories.
Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 230 059 016 606 6
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 827 530 24#)

We also have a Google Form to sign up for the program, so feel free to share with other senior living communities that might be interested in joining.

Free Activity Learning Event - Planetary Defense at NASA
2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:00
Date/Time: Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Talk Title: Planetary Defense at NASA
Talk Description: What would happen if an asteroid were on a collision course with Earth? Dr. Kelly Fast, NASA’s Acting Planetary Defense Officer, will provide an engaging overview of how NASA’s planetary defense program discovers, tracks, and studies near-Earth objects—asteroids and comets that could pose an impact hazard to our planet—and how scientists and engineers are studying methods to deflect them, if necessary. Attendees will also learn about the global network of astronomers and planetary defenders who work together to share observations, verify data, and safeguard our planet from cosmic impact threats.
Speaker: Dr. Kelly Fast (NASA Headquarters)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Kelly Fast is the Acting Planetary Defense Officer for NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, having previously managed its Near-Earth Object Observations Program for a decade. Dr. Fast also led NASA’s Solar System Observations, Planetary Astronomy and Planetary Atmospheres research programs, and she served as Program Scientist for the MAVEN mission to Mars. She investigated ozone and atmospheric chemistry on Mars, winds on Titan, and the effects on Jupiter’s stratosphere of small body impacts as an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center before coming to NASA Headquarters in 2011. She earned her B.S. in Astrophysics from UCLA and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Maryland. Main-belt asteroid 115434 (2003 TU2) was renamed “Kellyfast” in honor of Dr. Fast’s contributions to planetary science.
Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 216 209 385 918 0
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 312 238 577#)

We also have a Google Form to sign up for the program, so feel free to share with other senior living communities that might be interested in joining.

Free Learning Activity Event - Discover the World Around You with STELLA
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:00
“From Earth to the Cosmos: How NASA’s Backyard Instruments Are Preparing Us to Farm Beyond Our Planet”

Talk Description: NASA satellites like Landsat have spent over 50 years watching our planet, monitoring crops, tracking droughts, measuring the health of forests from orbit, and increasing our understanding of Earth’s dynamic processes. But how do we take what we’ve learned and apply it to our spacecraft, the Moon, Mars and beyond? In this talk, NASA’s Mike Taylor introduces STELLA, a family of open-source scientific instruments that anyone can build for under $200 and explores how the same principles NASA uses to monitor Earth are preparing us to grow food, monitor air, and sustain life across the cosmos. STELLA won’t be going to the Moon, but something like it will, and the people learning on STELLA today may be the ones who build it. Join us for a fascinating look at how backyard science is building the workforce for humanity’s next giant leap.
Speaker: Mike Taylor (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Speaker Bio: Mike Taylor is an Outreach Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he has worked for over 18 years. He leads the STELLA project, a growing family of low-cost, open-source remote sensing instruments for research and education. Mike holds both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in GIS from the University of Maryland.
Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 288 251 845 521 9
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 701 376 404#)

Lastly, I wanted to share that NASA is targeting no earlier than Wednesday, April 1, for the Artemis II test flight to the Moon. Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission under the Artemis program and will launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Check out this news release to learn how you can view the launch and other events throughout the mission.

2026 LeadingAge Missouri Annual Conference + Expo
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-05-20 12:00 | Margaritaville Lake Ozark, 494 Tan Tar A Dr, Osage Beach, MO, 65065, United States

Free Activity Learning Event - Habitable Worlds Observatory
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:00
Talk Title: “The Habitable Worlds Observatory: A Story of Life in the Universe”
Talk Description: The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a flagship space telescope concept recommended by the astronomy community to be NASA’s next great observatory after the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Its primary, groundbreaking mission is to be the first telescope specifically designed to find and study Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars. However, while it hunts for life in the universe, HWO will also act as a powerful general-purpose observatory. It will study the evolution of galaxies, the birth and death of stars, and the mysteries of our own solar system with unprecedented resolution.
Speaker: Dr. Sara Faggi (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Sara Faggi received her Ph.D. in Physics and Astrophysics from Università degli Studi di Firenze. She is a planetary scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Her expertise includes remote sensing of solar system objects employing infrared spectroscopy. She is Co-I of the MIRMIS spectrometer onboard the Comet Interceptor mission, senior developer of the Planetary Spectrum Generator (PSG), and Deputy Solar System Lead for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
Webinar Connection Info:

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 249 760 042 802 9
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Free Activity Learning Event - Artemis II: Observing the Moon
2026-06-18 18:00 - 19:00
More Information to Come

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 241 036 877 727 5
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 629 318 157#)
Speaker: TBD

The Impact of Social Media and AI on Medicine and Clinical Practice
2026-08-11 10:30 - 11:30
Overview
This Webinar will define social media and review the various internet-based platforms that allow individuals and communities to share healthcare-related information. Participants will explore the advantages, disadvantages, and growing impact of artificial intelligence and social media in healthcare communication and connection. The session will also outline best-practice guidelines for using social media and electronic communication while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.
Learning Objectives

Define social media including a list of internet-based platforms that allow individuals and communities to share healthcare-related information
Identify advantages, disadvantages and impact of utilizing AI and social media for healthcare information, communication and connection
Outline best practice guidelines for utilizing SM and electronic communication to ensure compliance with laws and statutes

Who Should Attend?
Providers across the senior care continuum—from independent and assisted living to skilled nursing, life plan communities, home health, and community-based services, adult day and hospice. This program is designed for administrators, nurses, activities, social services, human resources, marketing and all leadership.
CEUs pending.
Location
Online.
Virtual Link: Class Material and Zoom link will be sent two days prior
Faculty
Dr. Kathleen Weissberg, (MS in OT, 1993; Doctoral 2014) in her 30+ years of practice, has worked in rehabilitation and long-term care as an executive, researcher and educator. She has established numerous programs in nursing facilities; authored peer-reviewed publications on topics such as low vision, dementia quality care, and wellness; has spoken at numerous conferences both nationally and internationally. She provides continuing education support to over 30,000 therapists, nurses, and administrators nationwide as National Director of Education for Select Rehabilitation. She is a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, Certified Dementia Care Practitioner, Certified Montessori Dementia Care Practitioner, Certified Fall Prevention Specialist, a Certified Geriatric Care Practitioner, and Trauma Informed Educator. She serves as the Region 1 Director for the American Occupational Therapy Association Political Action Committee and is an adjunct professor at Gannon University in Erie, PA.

Suicide Prevention and Screening for Substance Misuse in the Elderly
2026-09-24 10:30 - 11:30
Overview
Substance Use Disorders and Suicide are a significant problem in the elderly population.
As this segment of the population continues to grow, we can expect to see more elderly patients with issues in which they turn to substances or depression that leads to suicidal thoughts or attempts. Studies have shown that elderly patients with Substance Use Disorders have very good outcomes when diagnosed and treatment is initiated. It is important for clinicians to be knowledgeable about the clinical presentation, methods of screening, and assessment of Substance Use Disorders within our elderly clients. The goal is timely interventions and referral to appropriate care so quality of life can be preserved. Evidence based Screening Tools for suicide and substance use will be shared.
Brief Intervention in the form of education to the client will be reviewed and practice within the session using readily available tools from reputable government resources.
Learning Objectives

Identify the process of screening, brief interventions and referral to treatment for elders with substance use disorders
Describe evidence-based screening tools appropriate in Care of the Elderly
Recognize Common Substance Use Disorders in persons over age 65

Who Should Attend?
Providers across the senior care continuum—from independent and assisted living to skilled nursing, life plan communities, home health, adult day, hospice, and community-based services. This program is designed for administrators, nurses, activities, social services and all leadership.
CEUs pending.
Location
Online.
Virtual Link: Class Material and Zoom link will be sent two days prior
Faculty
Ingrid M. Provident Ed.D, OTR/L, FAOTA, is a National Education Specialist, for Select Rehabilitation. Dr. Provident has held positions of Program coordinator, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Associate Professor at major Universities in Pittsburgh PA.
Ingrid is a highly engaging speaker who holds clinical degrees in Occupational Therapy and Educational Leadership. She has worked in multiple practice settings with the adult and geriatric populations. Ingrid has been an educator in formal academic settings and presented in more than 90 state, national and international venues. Dr. Provident is trained and certified in Mindfulness, Dementia Care and has facilitated multiple presentations on wellness, communication, and interventions for quality health care. She is a published author and mentor with a passion for assisting in the development of professionals.

Dementia Leadership Course
2026-11-18 10:15 - 14:15, 2026-11-20 10:15 - 14:15, 2026-12-02 10:15 - 14:15, 2026-12-04 10:15 - 14:15
For over 20 years, LeadingAge Illinois and Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center have offered the Dementia Leadership Course, a comprehensive educational series intended to provide Dementia Leaders with information they need to develop their skills and grow in their roles.
Dementia experts have recently re-designed this interactive program and added an ongoing networking component. The course provides a framework to teach the specialized skills and competencies needed to provide exceptional dementia services.
Upon completion of the course, participants will join the Dementia Leadership Network. Through a private forum, the Network will offer resources and training material to use for staff education, and allow participants to continue to interact, connect, share ideas, and ask questions.
Topics Include:
Leadership and Dementia Care
Update on Dementia
Ability Centered Care
Recognizing the Whole Person
Being an Expert in the Larger Community
Living with Dementia
Date & Time
Attendees will meet 4 times virtually via Zoom:
November 18 & 20 and December 2 & 4, 2026
10:15 am – 2:15 pm each day
Who Should Attend?
Directors of Alzheimer’s Special Care Units and Memory Care Programs, Staff Educators, Nurse Managers, Therapists, Social Workers, Life Enrichments Directors, Chaplains, CNAs, Home Care, Adult Day Care, Memory Care staff, Dietary personnel, and Administrators. Appropriate for skilled nursing, assisted living, and home and community-based services.
Course Requirements
Each attendee must be logged into his/her own computer that has sound and video camera capabilities.
Fees
$259 per person for all 4 sessions
