Full Program Lineup

Wednesday, November 18

8:30 AM

Main Conference

Bringing it Home: National Long Term Care Policy and Trends Updates and what they mean for New Hampshire

LaShuan Bethea & Elizabeth Burns, MD - AHCA/NCAL

We're excited to welcome back LaShuan Bethea, Executive Director of the National Center for Assisted Living and to meet Elizabeth Burns, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the American Health Care Association!

Wednesday, November 18

8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Life Enrichment & Social Services Intensive

Activities & Social Work Intensive with Cat Selman (until 2:30p)

Cat Selman - The Cat Selman Company

Reduction of Antipsychotic Drug Usage - The Social Worker & Activity Professional's Role

In April 2012, CMS released the "Initiative to Improve Behavioral Health and Reduce the Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Nursing Homes Residents" program. Reducing the use of antipsychotics by 15% was the goal for nursing facilities in 2012, with individual facility rates of usage to be reported on Nursing Home Compare. In 2013, most, if not all, facilities achieved that goal. CMS increased the goals of reducing the use of antipsychotic medications in long-stay nursing home residents by 25% by the end of 2015, 30% by the end of 2016, and more increases in 2017. And from there.....COVID happened, and the success began to deteriorate. This area, once again, has become a concern for providers and a focus during surveys. Numerous facilities have responded to these initiatives by immediately discontinuing certain drugs and utilizing activities as a better alternative. In many cases, this has resulted in chaos; primarily because the nursing homes are relying on an already overloaded, understaffed, activity department (with no support or assistance from other departments). Activities can prove to be hugely successful in reducing the use of antipsychotics; however, utilizing this approach must involve the entire staff, not just the activity/recreation department. Both activity professionals and social workers play an integral role in the success of this initiative. Come to learn realistic approaches and techniques for the entire interdisciplinary team! You know this is a focused area for the surveyors! Don't you want your team prepared?
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Responding to Challenging Behavior

In many cases, facility staff has not been properly trained to deal with challenging behavior. As a result, staff continues to simply react to behavior, as opposed to preventing or minimizing the behavior. Effective support and treatment of residents or clients who exhibit challenging behavior depend on being able to understand both the "function" that the behavior serves for the individual and the causal factors. Often, behavior that might be seen as maladaptive, crisis-causing or catastrophic makes sense within the context of a particular person's life (i.e., gets them what they want and away from what they don't want). This session will teach assessment techniques that identify variables that predict and maintain problem behavior and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of behavioral support plans. Common sense, "down-to-earth" techniques for dealing with specific behavioral issues will be addressed in depth. Both federal and state surveys are now taking a closer look at behavior management programs in facilities. Will your programs and interventions stand up to that scrutiny?
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Ethical Dilemmas: Which Decision is the Correct Decision? (1.5 hours)

"Dilemma" - a choice between alternatives equally undesirable. Have you ever felt caught in this position? What happens when resident choices and decisions, family desires and "directives," professional staff "protocol" and even personal staff feelings collide and conflict? What happens when emotions and policies are confronted with very real, human situations? Do you make the "right" choice or decision? This session will provide an overview of ethics and values for long-term care professionals in the provision of aging services. It will provide professionals with a framework for making ethical decisions. Participants will be provided with actual resident scenarios/facility situations and divided into small groups to: evaluate and discuss the problematic area, determine the best course of action and determine the appropriate established ethic standard that will support their decision. We all have ethics - right?!

Wednesday, November 18

10:30 AM

Main Conference

The Outlook for Health Care in New Hampshire: Changes in the Labor Force and Public Funding

Commissioner Richard Lavers - NH Department of Employment Security & Phil Sletten - NH Fiscal Policy Institute

What is the status of health care employment in New Hampshire? What are the projections for future needs, and how is public funding for health care changing?

In this session, New Hampshire Employment Security Commissioner Richard Lavers and New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Research Director Phil Sletten will describe the changes in health care employment since the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, the potential employment and service needs within New Hampshire's health care sector, and the State's fiscal capacity to address these needs going into the next State Budget cycle in 2027.

Wednesday, November 18

12:00 PM

ALL

Lunch

Wednesday, November 18

12:45 PM

Main Conference

Beyond margin and census: Trends that senior care organization leaders should be monitoring

Olga Gross-Balzano, NHA, CPA, and Melissa Baez, MBA - BerryDunn

The purpose of this session is to help senior care organization leaders gain insights into key performance indicators that may indicate the first signs of financial distress and adjust organizational strategy accordingly. This session is focused on different types of senior care providers, including continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, skilled and long term care nursing facilities.

This session will cover:
* Early indicators of financial stress
* Trends in labor utilization and agency reliance
* Rate adequacy and guardrails
* Using operational and resident_level data to anticipate change rather than react to it
* Multi-departmental approach to addressing financial pressures and managing to rate paid.

Wednesday, November 18

1:45 PM

Main Conference

TBD

Wednesday, November 18

2:45 PM

ALL

A Referee's Guide to Leadership (in Healthcare)

David Posner - 3 Point Consulting

A Referee's Guide to Leadership isn't your typical keynote, it's a courtside experience that brings leadership lessons to life.

From the roar of the crowd to split-second calls that can change the game, referees face the same challenges leaders & administrators tackle every day: handling conflict, building teamwork, and making confident split-second decisions when it counts.

David Posner, a nationally recognized referee and speaker on leadership, uses humor, interactive audience exercises, and real game footage to turn the arena into a leadership classroom.

The result? An unforgettable session that leaves audiences laughing, learning, and walking away with fresh strategies they can immediately put into play at work.

Thursday, November 19

8:30 AM

Main Conference

The Nurse's Voice: Data-Driven Strategies to Overcome Workforce Challenges

David Posner - 3 Point Consulting

David delves into the pressing challenges of long-term care nursing.

Backed by compelling research from Wakefield, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. nurses, including RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, this session will provide healthcare executives, administrators, and HR leaders with critical insights into staffing shortages.

David will break down the realities of the workforce crisis, offering actionable strategies to help providers address staffing gaps, improve patient care, and implement technology-driven solutions. With over 20 years in senior care, his expertise in driving meaningful change will empower attendees with the tools they need to navigate these challenges effectively.

By the end of the session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of workforce pain points, explore innovative solutions, and leave equipped with practical steps to build a more sustainable staffing model. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights!

Thursday, November 19

10:00 AM

Main Conference

Leading with Compassion: Strengthening Care, Culture, and Connection

Richard Bottner, DHA, PA-C, CPHQ, FACHE - The Schwartz Center

This session will explore the science behind compassion, its impact on patient outcomes and experiences and the growing evidence linking compassionate care to improved clinician well-being and organizational performance. Attendees will learn practical, evidence-based strategies for cultivating compassionate behaviors that can transform relationships, enhance workplace culture and improve care delivery across organizations.

Thursday, November 19

11:15 AM

Main Conference

Cannabis for Agitation, Pain, and Antipsychotic/Opioid Sparing Following Federal Rescheduling

Dustin Sulak D.O.

$This session addresses the critical need for evidence-based policy and clinical practice guidelines following the 2026 federal rescheduling of medical cannabis to Schedule III, providing a practical framework to navigate the new regulatory landscape, including the ADA obligations for residents with chronic pain and dementia. The presentation will synthesize the latest clinical trial data demonstrating cannabis-based formulations associated with improvements in dementia-related agitation, chronic pain in older adults, and sparing of high-risk opioid and antipsychotic drugs. Clear protocols for inclusion, dosing, and monitoring will empower attendees to deliver patient-centered care and reduce health disparities. Objectives: Analyze the implications of the 2026 federal rescheduling of medical cannabis to Schedule III and develop compliant facility policies that align with CMS and ADA requirements. Evaluate the latest clinical evidence regarding cannabis efficacy for agitation in dementia and refractory pain in the elderly. Implement patient-centered cannabis-based treatments for dementia-related symptoms, chronic pain, and antipsychotic/opioid substitution.$

Thursday, November 19

12:15 PM

Main Conference

NHHCA & LTCF Annual Meeting & Luncheon

Join us as we recap 2026, celebrate accomplishments, and prepare for 2027.

Thursday, November 19

2:00 PM

Main Conference

SurveyLIVE!

DHHS Certification & Licensure Surveyors

Thursday, November 19

3:00 PM

Main Conference

Are You Fired Up OR Just Have that Burning Sensation?!

Cat Selman - The Cat Selman Company

"I'm quitting!! I just can't do this anymore!" Tired? Overworked? Unappreciated? Frustrated? This session will address the challenges that healthcare professionals face each day at work and at home. The session is not "just another stress management" lecture; it has been developed specifically for the long-term care professional. How do you stay "up" all the time? How do you keep your enthusiasm and energy? What motivates you to continue in this very stressful field? These questions and more will be answered at this motivating, uplifting session!