LeadingAge Missouri

Planetary Science - Tiny Moon, Big Questions - Free Activity Event
2025-12-17 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | MO
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#)

Assisted Living/RCF Virtual Conference
2026-02-10 09:00 - 2026-02-11 16:00 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/assisted-living-rcf-virtual-conference/
Join us for a 2-day virtual conference deep diving into issues important to Assisted Living and Residential Care Providers.
Registration: $189 / attendee. This rate applies to members and non-members.
Intended Audience: This conference was organized specifically for leaders and staff in assisted living, residential care, and/or state licensed only facilities.
Approved for 5 ADM and 5 PC CEU’s for MO LNHA/RCAL Administrators (TA# 015-47-26)
Session Schedule
All Times in CST. Sessions are 60 minutes with 15-minute breaks between.

Session Details
Day 1
Session 1
Leading With Emotional Intelligence: Shifting from Doing to Developing Others in Long-Term Care
Karen Sturchio, Regional Director of Operations, Oxford Senior Living
In the demanding world of long-term care, leaders often rise through the ranks by being exceptional doers—people who step in, take charge, and get things done. Yet, sustaining success at the administrative level requires a different skill set: one rooted in emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the ability to empower others.
This session explores how emotionally intelligent leadership transforms “doing” into “developing.” Through practical examples and self-reflective activities, participants will learn how to strengthen self-awareness, delegate effectively, and coach their teams to higher levels of engagement and accountability—all while fostering a culture of empathy and trust.

Identify key components of emotional intelligence (EI) that impact leadership effectiveness in the long-term care environment.
Recognize personal tendencies that may hinder effective delegation and coaching, and apply strategies to shift from task-oriented to people-oriented leadership.
Demonstrate emotionally intelligent communication techniques to build trust, motivate staff, and cultivate a supportive, high-performing team culture.

Session 2
What to Report and When to Report It
Dawne Altis, Director of Survey, Certification, and Credentialing, Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services
During this session, attendees will explore the reporting the requirements used in the State Operations Manual regarding reportable incidents.

Identify reportable incidents and issues.
Understand the regulatory requirements regarding Facility Reported Incidents (FRI).
Required information and facility responsibilities in the reporting process.

Session 3
Bridging the Gaps: Models of Care for Seamless Transitions and Readmission Prevention
Lee Wilford, Chief Operating Officer, Puzzle Healthcare
Care transitions remain one of the most vulnerable points for older adults, particularly when moving from the hospital to assisted or independent living (AL/IL) or through hospital → SNF → AL/IL pathways. Fragmented systems, competing stakeholder priorities, and lack of continuity increase the risk of hospital readmissions. This session explores how models of care can reduce fragmentation, strengthen coordination, and prevent avoidable readmissions during these transitions. Drawing from evidence and best practices, participants will learn how providers and operators can align care strategies to reduce hospital utilization while supporting patient needs and system sustainability.

Define the role of models of care in preventing hospital readmissions across transitions from hospital to AL/IL or SNF to AL/IL.
Examine the impact of fragmented transitions on readmission rates and identify key risk factors.
Identify systemic and stakeholder-driven barriers to readmission prevention, including regulatory, financial, and organizational challenges.
Apply strategies for leveraging care teams, communication pathways, and operational protocols to reduce hospital utilization.
Explore innovative approaches to partnership between hospitals, SNFs, and AL/IL communities that improve outcomes and reduce readmission risk.

Session 4
The Medical Director’s Role in Assisted Living Facilities
Dr. Walter Lin, MD, MBA, Generation Clinical Partners
As resident acuity increases and expectations for aging in place continue to rise, assisted living communities are under growing pressure to deliver high-quality, clinically informed care while preserving their social and residential essence. This presentation examines how an engaged Medical Director can elevate clinical outcomes, enhance resident and family satisfaction, and strengthen organizational performance. Participants will learn to define the Medical Director’s essential responsibilities, implement practical strategies that drive measurable improvements in care, and position their communities for success amid a rapidly evolving assisted living landscape. Whether you’re an administrator, nurse, or physician leader, this session offers actionable insights to help your organization thrive in the new era of assisted living.

Explain the value of establishing an assisted living Medical Director position in the context of increasing resident acuity and the universal goal of aging in place.
Identify core responsibilities of the Medical Director in promoting quality, safety, and clinical excellence in assisted living communities.
Describe specific strategies the assisted living Medical Director can use to improve resident safety and outcomes.
Evaluate future challenges and opportunities for physician leadership in the evolving assisted living landscape.

Session 5
Community Programs: Creating & Maintaining Connections to Build Relationships
Michelle Haub, Special Programs Leader, Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community
Creating and maintaining community programs can be your gateway to improving quality of life for people living in your facility and in the greater community. Learn how to utilize your staff’s knowledge, skills and team strengths to develop the right connections for now and the future.

Identify the benefits of comprehensive community programs in enhancing quality of life for residents and individuals in the greater community.
Describe the unique roles that nurses, administrators, and therapists play in initiating, developing, and sustaining community partnerships.
Develop strategies to create sustainable connections with local organizations, volunteers, and support networks that align with residents’ & community needs and facility goals.
Identify methods for measuring the impact of community programs on resident well-being, staff satisfaction, and community relationships.

Day 2
Session 1
Assisted Living Emergency Preparedness Guidelines
Speaker TBD
Session Description TBD
Session Objectives TBD
Session 2
When Home Means Here: Rethinking Hospice in Assisted Living
Amy Hensley, MSN, RN, Co-Founder, Before the Casket
Death happens here. This session reframes leadership in assisted living: administrators will explore how to build stronger partnerships with hospice providers and retain your biggest assets: staff. Staff members—no matter their age or experience—often receive little more than a directive to move on to the next task. Acknowledging staff grief creates a culture of emotional support, and fosters resilience so your teams can provide extraordinary care, even in the hardest moments.

Create strategies to strengthen collaboration with hospice agencies to support resident-centered care.
Describe the various emotional impacts that resident deaths can have on assisted living staff.
Design practices to support staff grief when residents die in assisted living settings to foster resilience, reduce burnout, increase retention, and strengthen team cohesion.

Session 3
Who’s the Boss? Understanding Powers of Attorney, Guardianships, and Conservatorships
Jennifer Walters, Partner & Managing Attorney, Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, P.A.
A resident may have Powers of Attorney, Guardianship and/or Conservatorship documents that give authority to someone. It can be difficult to understand what each of these documents does and what authority they grant. The purpose of this presentation is to explain legal background of each document and what authority each conveys. I will include real life scenarios and how I have approached them.

Learn why guardianships and conservatorships are put in place.
Learn what authority Powers of Attorney, Guardianship and Conservatorships convey.
Understand how approach them when provided them in real life scenarios.

Session 4
Incorporating Different Dining Needs with Equity, Quality, and Consistency
Rebecca McCullough, MS, RDN, LD, CDP, FAND, NEXDINE Hospitality
This training is designed to equip dining and hospitality teams in assisted living with the tools and knowledge to deliver exceptional dining experiences that honor resident preferences, health needs, and cultural backgrounds. Participants will explore strategies for balancing individualized care with operational consistency, ensuring that every resident receives equitable access to high-quality meals regardless of dietary restrictions, medical conditions, or personal choices.

Resident Centered Assessment & Documentation
Individualized Menu Modification
Operational Consistency with Choice
Continuous Quality & Equity Monitoring

Session 5
Workforce Wake-Up Call: It’s Time to Recalibrate Our Work World
Cara Silletto, MBA, CSP, President & Chief Retention Officer, Magnet Culture
Finding and keeping lasting talent today is harder than ever because the employer-employee relationship has evolved. Staffing challenges – and their financial impact – are here to stay, and managers can no longer “do more with less” and still meet organizational goals and customer expectations. This new dynamic means serious changes are needed for organizations that want to keep their doors open. While many industries have normalized business practices that are no longer effective for managing today’s new workforce, executives hold the power to recalibrate to a more sustainable approach. Join us to uncover how to align your leadership team’s priorities, operationalize unavoidable turnover, and turn your culture from a vulnerability into a competitive advantage.

Explore the unique perspective of today’s new hires to avoid the growing disconnect between senior leaders and staff
Reconsider existing organizational priorities, budgets, and workloads to create greater sustainability
Equip leaders to become culture-building strategic partners with executive backing to accelerate results

A recording of this event is not included in the registration fee.

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!

Making Sense of the Budget - Skills for Leaders at Every Level
2026-02-18 13:00 - 14:30 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/7995/2026-02-18/
This program has been approved for Continuing Education for 4.5 total participant hours by NAB/NCERS—Approval #20270217-3-A117586-DL.
1.5 NAB credits will be awarded per full session attended.
About the Series:
Budgeting is part of leadership, and we know it can feel intimidating. But it doesn’t have to.
If you want a clearer understanding of how decisions are made, how budgets are built, and how to use your numbers to lead more confidently, this series is for you.
Across three virtual sessions, we’ll guide you through understanding your organization’s business model, creating a budget grounded in real goals, and managing that budget throughout the year. You’ll walk away with practical tools, clearer expectations, and the confidence to participate fully in conversations that shape your organization’s future.
Following this series, you will be able to:

Understand how your organization’s business model shapes decisions and expectations, and see clearly how your role fits into that larger picture.
Translate organizational goals into practical budget needs for your department or area of responsibility.
Participate confidently in the annual budget process, knowing what’s expected at each step and how leaders contribute.
Use your budget as a year-round leadership tool to monitor performance, understand variances, and make informed decisions.
Communicate budget needs and results clearly, including when making the case for new resources or changes.

SESSION 1:
February 18, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST | 1.5 NAB Credits
Understanding Business Models and Your Role in Budgeting
Before you try to build or manage a budget, you need to understand the business objectives of your organization. In fact, you need to understand the business goals of the organization and how they impact what you as a leader need to do over the upcoming year. In this session, we will talk about the concept of a business model, how it applies to organizations, and how organizations can run multiple business models that have unique goals and objectives. We will also look at the business models of departments, and how that impacts the budget planning for a leader’s area of responsibility. Finally, we will look at the role of the leader in the annual budget process.
SESSION 2:
March 4, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST | 1.5 NAB Credits
Creating a Budget: It’s a Team Sport
Once you understand the goals of the organization, this understanding needs to be translated into the budget needs for the year. We will discuss the budget process, how it is run, and what the expectations of different levels of leadership are in the process. We will also talk about different types of budgets such as operating and capital budgets, and the differences between a budget and a forecast. We will also look at the concept of a business case to help leaders explain the need for funding for new initiatives or budget needs.
SESSION 3:
March 25, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST | 1.5 NAB Credits
Managing the Budget: It’s a Year-Round Process
Once the budget is built, it should be used to monitor performance. What does that mean, and how should leaders look at their budgets? We will talk about the role of the leader in understanding and reporting on budget variances, discuss some of the tools that will help in monitoring the budget, and discuss how changes or unexpected results in one part of an organization can influence what is expected from other departments or from other leaders. We will conclude this session with a final summary of the annual budgeting process.

NASA Free Activity Learning Event - StarBurst: Gamma-Ray Hunter
2026-02-19 18:00 - 19:00 | MO
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.

Making Sense of the Budget - Skills for Leaders at Every Level
2026-03-04 13:00 - 14:30 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/7995/2026-03-04/

Making Sense of the Budget - Skills for Leaders at Every Level
2026-03-25 13:00 - 14:30 | https://leadingagemissouri.org/event/7995/2026-03-25/

Free Activity Learning Event - Planetary Defense at NASA
2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:00 | MO
More Information to come!

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#)
Speaker: Kelly Fast, NASA HQ

Management Strategies for Workers Compensation in Today’s Long Term Care Environment - Free Member Education
2026-04-08 09:00 - 2026-04-09 12:00 | MO
Seminar is Free for Leading Age and HCFM members. Cost is $75 for non-members.
Program Objective: Learn the elements of Total Safety Management, a comprehensive behavior- based
safety program, to reduce employee injury and minimize workers compensation expense. Learn about
claims management and the HCFM workers compensation insurance trust.
Continuing Education Credits: Approved for 5.0 Administrator Clock Hours by the Missouri Board of
Nursing Home Administrators.
Day 1 Agenda
9:00-9:30 Background and Overview of HCFM Anthony Ross, Carpenter and Company
9:30-10:15 Total Safey Management Jill Burford, Summit Safety
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Total Safety Management (cont.) Jill Burford, Summit Safety
Day 2 Agenda
9:00-10:00 Claims Management Lucille DiMaria/Michael Moll, Corvel
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:15 Drug Testing Angela Garrison, Tomo Drug Testing
11:15-11:45 Wrap up Jill Burford, Summit Safety
April 8th Zoom Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81499855490
April 9th Zoom Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83546190685

Free Learning Activity Event - Discover the World Around You with STELLA
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:00 | MO
More information to come!

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#)
Speaker: Mike Taylor, NASA GSFC

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 | MO
More information to come!

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

Join by phone: +1-256-715-9946 (phone conference ID: 904 346 78#)
Speaker: Sara Faggi, NASA GSFC

Free Activity Learning Event - Artemis II: Observing the Moon
2026-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | MO
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

Management Strategies for Workers Compensation in Today’s Long Term Care Environment - Free Member Education
2026-08-12 09:00 - 2026-08-13 12:00 | MO
Seminar is Free for Leading Age and HCFM members. Cost is $75 for non-members.
Program Objective: Learn the elements of Total Safety Management, a comprehensive behavior- based
safety program, to reduce employee injury and minimize workers compensation expense. Learn about
claims management and the HCFM workers compensation insurance trust.
Continuing Education Credits: Approved for 5.0 Administrator Clock Hours by the Missouri Board of
Nursing Home Administrators.
Day 1 Agenda
9:00-9:30 Background and Overview of HCFM Anthony Ross, Carpenter and Company
9:30-10:15 Total Safey Management Jill Burford, Summit Safety
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Total Safety Management (cont.) Jill Burford, Summit Safety
Day 2 Agenda
9:00-10:00 Claims Management Lucille DiMaria/Michael Moll, Corvel
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:15 Drug Testing Angela Garrison, Tomo Drug Testing
11:15-11:45 Wrap up Jill Burford, Summit Safety

Aug 12 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81077239732 9:00-11:45 am
Aug 13 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84780122435 9:00-11:45 am

Management Strategies for Workers Compensation in Today’s Long Term Care Environment - Free Member Education
2026-10-07 09:00 - 2026-10-08 12:00 | MO
Seminar is Free for Leading Age and HCFM members. Cost is $75 for non-members.
Program Objective: Learn the elements of Total Safety Management, a comprehensive behavior- based
safety program, to reduce employee injury and minimize workers compensation expense. Learn about
claims management and the HCFM workers compensation insurance trust.
Continuing Education Credits: Approved for 5.0 Administrator Clock Hours by the Missouri Board of
Nursing Home Administrators.
Day 1 Agenda
9:00-9:30 Background and Overview of HCFM Anthony Ross, Carpenter and Company
9:30-10:15 Total Safey Management Jill Burford, Summit Safety
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Total Safety Management (cont.) Jill Burford, Summit Safety
Day 2 Agenda
9:00-10:00 Claims Management Lucille DiMaria/Michael Moll, Corvel
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:15 Drug Testing Angela Garrison, Tomo Drug Testing
11:15-11:45 Wrap up Jill Burford, Summit Safety

Oct 7 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89464782807 9:00-11:45 am
Oct 8 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82063991263 9:00-11:45 am
