Registration, Breakfast, Sponsor Networking

Welcome & Opening Remarks
Elissa Sherman, President, LeadingAge Massachusetts

Keynote: Creating Leadership: Building a Culture of Innovation
Jonathan Fanning, Author, Leadership Development Expert, Entrepreneur, Parent, Citizen

Innovation and creativity are absolutely necessary to thrive in business, hiring, motivating, marketing, parenting, educating, coaching…Are you and your organization becoming more–or less–creative? Jonathan’s TED Talk on this topic won the best speaker of the conference. Participants will learn 5 core strategies to build a culture of creativity and how to get “unstuck.” Memorable lessons from some of the most creative people and organizations in history, illustrate how to implement these lessons as an entrepreneur, parent, educator, and with clients large and small. Jonathan will share his “innovator’s equation” that has been a game-changer for leaders across the country.

Learning Objectives:

• How can you intentionally foster the 5 traits of the world's most creative people?
• What questions, stories, and models will get you and your team “unstuck”?
• What is the “Innovator’s Equation”? – Jeff Hyatt (Hyatt Hotels) called this the greatest leadership lesson of the decade.

What if… Age-Friendly Spread to Every Corner of the Commonwealth: Massachusetts’ Vision to Become the Best Place to Grow Up and Grow Old Together
Elizabeth Chen, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Robin Lipson, Acting Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs

In 2017, Governor Baker established the Governor’s Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts. Among the goals of the Council was to develop a plan to promote healthy aging in Massachusetts, and to achieve the goal of making the Commonwealth the most age-friendly state for people of all ages. Over the past two years, the Council held listening sessions, received input from hundreds of individuals, mobilized workgroups and issued a series of actionable recommendations with an implementation plan. Hear from leaders at EOEA and DPH about this statewide effort and how aging service providers can become partners in this exciting work.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the State’s commitment to think differently about aging, through an Executive Order and creation of Governor’s Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts
• Learn why Massachusetts has made a cornerstone commitment to becoming an Age-Friendly State (AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities)
• Learn how LeadingAge MA members can engage in this work and be challenged to bring their expertise and experience to the statewide initiative

Lunch – Exhibition Floor Open

They Serve: The Essence of Authentic Leadership
Jonathan Fanning, Author, Leadership Development Expert, Entrepreneur, Parent, Citizen

Every leader is an agent of change… for better or for worse!  “They Serve” is a unique exploration of the most effective time-tested leadership principles and paradoxes.  We all know great leadership when we see it.  What four things must a servant leader do?  Most organizations that teach servant leadership violate at least two of these building blocks.  This program may change the way you look at role models forever.

Learning Objectives:

• Servant leadership contains a powerful paradox. Most organizations that say they practice “Servant Leadership” do not. Understand and apply the powerful paradox for the first time.
• To truly serve includes paying a personal price. How can leaders demonstrate, teach and inspire others to pay a personal price in our short-term, “what’s in it for me” culture?
• Aspiring servant leaders get stuck on the priority between two words. Jonathan’s passionate stories will stick with them as listeners try to become better servant leaders long after this workshop.

Mass Healthy Aging Data Report Workshop – Using Data to Improve Healthy Aging in the Commonwealth
Alrie McNiff Daniels, Senior Communications Officer, Tufts Health Plan Foundation

Beth Dugan, PhD, Director of Global Aging & Life Course Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston

Facilitator: James Fuccione, Senior Director, Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative

This interactive session will offer an overview of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report and highlight key resources available in the report.  Participants will hear how to use “Reframing Aging” recommendations when sharing data.  Attendees will then break into smaller discussion groups to take a closer look at individual community profiles and brainstorm innovative ways the data can inform their work. 

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report and the tools available.
• Understand how to access the tools and explore ways they can be used in practice.
• Become familiar with Reframing Aging recommendations and resources
• Learn about health disparities and community factors contributing to healthy aging in Massachusetts.

What If Your Organization Harnessed the Power of Student Involvement?
Lisa Kubiak, President and CEO,  Mary Ann Morse Health Care Center

Cheryl Babin, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, MA College of Pharmacy and Health Science

Marianne Delorey, Executive Director, Colony Retirement Community

Kim Pratt, Director of Human Resources, Brookhaven at Lexington

As we face the demands of an aging population, the need for competent, passionate staff is ever increasing.  For many, the inspiration to begin a career in aging services begins with personal interaction and connection.  Join us to learn about creative ways that LeadingAge MA members are collaborating with academic organizations. These partnerships create heightened awareness and enthusiasm amongst students for the multitude of career opportunities that exist in aging services, while offering residents the opportunity for intergenerational connection.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify potential opportunities for increasing connections between students and older adults.
• Learn from real-life examples of provider/academic connections
• Understand the wide spread benefits of intergenerational connection.

Creating Inclusive Communities
Robin Bromberg, Resident Services Director, 2Life Communities, Brighton Campus

Blaire Melius, Resident Services Director, Golda Meir House

Aline Russotto, Executive Director, Orchard Cove

Stephanie Small, Executive Director, Simon Fireman Community

Increasing diversity in senior living communities is something that most communities strive to achieve.  Not only does diversity lead to stronger and richer communities, but consumers of the future will come to expect a more diverse and inclusive environment which is reflective of the communities in which they have previously resided.  Creating welcoming and affirming environments where resident/consumer diversity is respected and embraced requires a thoughtful approach and comes with both challenges and opportunities.  Learn from two LeadingAge MA member organizations that have deliberately worked to create inclusive and welcoming communities.  

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and appreciate the value and opportunities that exist when senior communities are diverse and inclusive
• Learn about a multi-pronged approach to creating a culture that welcomes and respects the needs of diverse older adults from all backgrounds
• Identify the challenges as well as opportunities that exist in the development of policies, practices and programming that is reflective of diverse populations

Virtual Reality for Seniors: From Design to Engagement
Keith Bradley, Assoc. AIA, ASAI, Director of Marketing, Architectural Visualization and Graphics, LWDA

Kyle Rand, CEO, Rendever

Gracyn Robinson, IIDA Associate, EDAC Affiliate: Sr Interior Designer, Director of Business Development, LWDA

Virtual reality (VR) offers opportunities for engagement, connection, and understanding for those living in senior living and care communities. For existing, new, or repositioned communities, VR design models allow current and future residents to see what their new home will look like and have input into the design process. VR can also be used to visually and emotionally transport groups of seniors to anywhere in the world and be used as part of engagement and reminiscent therapy for residents. Come hear how the virtual experience helps build conversation and socialization connecting residents in the design or destination experience and increases understanding of future occupied spaces and shared cognition.

Learning objectives:

• See how VR assists stakeholders in understanding the built environment and allows immediate cross-industry interface.
• Understand how VR provides engagement between owners/operators, families, and residents.
• Understand the impact of social isolation on the 65+ population and how the use of VR builds community and interpersonal connections.
• Explore VR as a multi-purpose tool from the renovation and new construction to post-occupancy engagement.

Closing General Session – IMPROVe your Communication to Improve your Organization
Pamela Atwood, MA, CDP, CLL, Executive Director Colebrook Village at Hebron and founder/owner of Live, Laugh, LEARN, LLC.

David Fisher, Acme Improv Co.

Ruth Neeman, AIA, Principal, Director of Senior Environments Studio, LWDA Design

Do you feel like a gymnast trying to diffuse conflicts, develop your team, and meet consumer needs? Improvisational theater has long been known for lighthearted comedy performed unplanned and unscripted ~ which makes it a natural application to improve flexibility in your communication with everyone from your colleagues to staff and residents.  Improv has been found to have special effectiveness for working with people with dementia. In this highly interactive workshop, participants will have the opportunity to watch and try simple strategies to improve their communication and are encouraged to share the secrets with their colleagues to be the Simone Biles of your aging services organization.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe three benefits of positive communication for aging services staffs.
• Demonstrate improv acting techniques which reinforce positive communication techniques.
• Discuss 5 communication practices to support effective teams and consumer interactions.

Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks
Elissa Sherman, President, LeadingAge Massachusetts