Overcoming ageism in fitness to create inclusive wellness programsErin Eleuterio
Ageism in fitness perpetuates harmful stereotypes and limits the potential of many older adults. This session empowers fitness professionals to overcome these biases to create inclusive programs that celebrate aging and prioritize individual abilities. Learn to identify and challenge ageist language, design safe and engaging activities, and build trusting relationships with clients. Fostering intergenerational connections and focusing on individual needs can help you improve client satisfaction, retention and overall health outcomes.
You’ll be able to:
Dismantle ageist stereotypes in fitness and wellness settings.
Foster environments that celebrate aging and promote intergenerational connection.
Create a safe continuum of physical activities that balances support and challenge and fosters enjoyment in physical activity.
Faculty: Erin Eleuterio, BS, ACSM-CPT, Older Adult Fitness Specialist and Podcast Host, Second Act Fit Pros. CEUs
Capturing legacy: How a photography initiative unites residents, families and staffVictoria James
Phoenix Senior Living leverages the power of photography and curated props to create meaningful interactions with individuals across the spectrum of dementia. A medium for storytelling, emotional connection and empathy-building, the initiative unlocks memories, promotes active engagement and fosters moments of clarity and joy for participants by using tailored visual and tactile stimuli. It also serves as a tool for caregivers and staff to bridge the gap between professional care and personal connection. In this session, delve into the project’s creative methodology and explore the profound impact of this approach.
You’ll be able to:
Explain how photography and curated props can be utilized as effective tools to engage individuals with dementia and evoke meaningful memories.
Recall insights into creating and tailoring individualized engagement activities that reflect the histories, interests and identities of participants with dementia.
Discuss the psychological and emotional benefits of using photography and props in dementia care, supported by case studies and real-world outcomes.
Faculty: Victoria James, BS, AS, NCCDP, MCDP, Corporate Director of Programming, Phoenix Senior Living. CEUs
Transitional wellness: A model for moving people from skilled therapy to independent exerciseElizabeth Johnson, Jim LeRoux & Jessi Kearns
Individuals recovering from recent surgery or illness may not reach physical therapy goals or desired activity levels by the end of allotted physical therapy time. A transitional wellness program can provide a safe, affordable and supervised exercise environment in a variety of settings. Personal trainers can work with people’s healthcare providers to design an exercise program to help people meet/maintain activity and mobility goals. In this session, you will gain the tools and resources to create a transitional wellness program; also, delve into metrics for financial and wellness outcomes that demonstrate the program’s value. Return home able to discuss transitional wellness as a community-building endeavor.
You’ll be able to:
Describe the tools and resources needed to develop a transitional wellness program.
Assess current programming for residents or clients who have recently completed skilled therapy.
Develop a budget and proposal for a transitional wellness program and develop metrics to track effectiveness of the program.
Faculty: Elizabeth Johnson, BA, MSHP, Director, Rehabilitation Services; Jim LeRoux, BS, MOT, NBCOT OTR, Assistant Director, Outpatient Services; and Jessi Kearns, BA, NASM CPT, Wellness Center Coordinator, Peterson Health. CEUs
Engagement meets innovation: AI’s role in personalization and wellnessLaura Carrillo, Sara Tottress & Dylan Conley
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers exciting opportunities to personalize wellness programming and enhance resident engagement. Explore how AI can revolutionize activity programming and staff workflows by aligning resident preferences with innovative programming to support residents’ physical, emotional, social and cognitive well-being and to save staff time. Senior living providers will share experiences of using an AI-enhanced solution. The presenters will highlight benefits and key data points achieved and compare AI to non-AI use. Gain actionable steps to integrate advanced technology into your community.
You’ll be able to:
Describe practical applications of AI in senior living, particularly as related to activity management, calendar coordination, and wellness-focused engagement programming.
Explain how AI can simplify and enhance the personalization of wellness programming and engagement, enabling residents and staff to participate in more meaningful ways.
Apply best practices for effectively integrating AI-enhanced technology into your community, with a focus on achieving tangible outcomes for resident engagement and staff efficiency.
Faculty: Laura Carrillo, Corporate Director of Programming and Transportation, WellQuest Living; Sara Tottress, Programs Director, WellQuest of Menifee Lakes; and Dylan Conley, BS, Chief Technology Officer, LifeLoop. CEUs
Better balance: Using chairs in creative waysKymberly Williams-Evans
Learn how to use chairs to enhance participants’ function and balance and, during exercise, to open their bodies rather than closing them off during a chair-based balance workout. Discover exercises that use chairs for more than sitting or holding onto. Guide participants to improve their balance, posture and coordination, while reducing time parked in their seats. Fill your toolbox with curriculum that creatively uses chairs in ways that are safe, meaningful and fun. Leave equipped to lead multiple, progressive dynamic balance workouts.
You’ll be able to:
Design and teach meaningful chair-assisted workouts that encourage dynamic balance, improve posture, enhance coordination and reduce fall risk.
Lead group classes using safe and engaging moves that maximize safety and minimize sitting for older adults of various abilities.
Offer and cue options and progressions that accommodate various skill levels.
Faculty: Kymberly Williams-Evans, PhD (ABD), FAI/ISSA, Active Aging for Boomers. CEUs
Strength for Parkinson’sDean Sbragia
Learn the science behind strength training for people with Parkinson’s (PWP)—including the emotional, physical and neurological benefits of a well-designed strength program. Explore ways this program can be utilized to improve strength for all patients and residents and serve as the cornerstone of healthy aging. The presenter will share an experience with a San Diego Parkinson’s support group and discuss how the scholarship program works.
You’ll be able to:
Explain the rationale and science behind a targeted strength program for people with Parkinson’s.
Identify the specifics of the Strength for PWP program and how to incorporate it into your offerings.
Expand knowledge of the program into your communities using marketing and educational materials you take home from the session.
Faculty: Dean Sbragia, MBA, CDP, CMDCP, AIB-VRII, CEO, Medical Fitness Solutions, and Manager, Diversified Healthcare Development, LLC. CEUs
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8:15 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
Heritage-focused nutrition strategies for thriving older adultsMaggie Moon
Learn about the top-ranked diet for brain health, the MIND diet. Find out how to share the MIND diet and its benefits effectively—and within scope of practice—with clients in a way that promotes healthy aging without forcing them to give up familiar heritage foods. Discover how building meals around culturally meaningful proteins enhances nutrient intake, improves diet quality, and bolsters mental well-being and physical function. Learn how to collaborate with culinary/nutrition teams to educate clients, plus use a person-centered approach to engage them. Effective, empowering programs celebrate clients’ heritage foods.
You’ll be able to:
Identify at least one culturally relevant protein source that can be incorporated into the MIND diet.
Explain the relationship between culturally relevant protein foods, nutrient intake and diet quality in older adults.
Describe at least two strategies for engaging older adults in nutrition conversations that demonstrate cultural humility.
Faculty: Maggie Moon, MS, RD, Author, The MIND Diet (Second Edition): A Scientific Approach to Enhancing Brain Function. CEUs
Bee-Well! Seniors & Pollinators Thriving Together: A meaningful approach to enhancing livesTanya Snow & Janice Miller
Bee-Well! Seniors & Pollinators Thriving Together is a nine-month program to engage communities and promote wellness. Discover how the innovative program enhances environmental and vocational health and fosters connections among older adults, youth and community members through education about honeybees. Explore ways to design and implement the scalable program in any community setting, by reviewing its success at Bria Communities. Beyond its environmental impact, Bee-Well! has boosted emotional, intellectual and physical wellness, enhancing lives through a unique, meaningful approach.
You’ll be able to:
Develop a framework for a nine-month program capable of being tailored to your community that effectively engages older adults and other community members in wellness activities centered around honeybees.
Discuss the key elements to successfully implementing a pollinator program that requires a specific knowledge base outside of current expertise.
Implement or modify existing environmental and vocational wellness initiatives using insights and tools from the Bee-Well! program as a model.
Faculty: Tanya Snow, MHA, Director, and Janice Miller, BA, Manager, Marketing and Community Engagement, Bria Communities, LP. CEUs
The impact of programming at the intersection of health and housingJennifer Truppa & Ralph Gaines
Discover effective strategies for creating programming to serve older adults within affordable housing units or communities. Social service coordinators play a critical role in supporting older adults with health and well-being, financial and housing stability, and social connectedness in HUD-assisted housing. Learn about the creative programming that is making an impact for the residents we are privileged to serve.
You’ll be able to:
Describe the HUD Multifamily housing platform and its funding dynamic; and discuss how Service Coordination programming can help older adults to age in place with dignity and respect.
Recognize the overall community’s data profile and discuss resident listening sessions used to help build creative programming.
Develop strategies to create innovative programming and tap into the funding sources that support these initiatives.
Faculty: Jennifer Truppa, RN, BSN, Director of Social Services and Quality Assurance, and Ralph Gaines, MBA, President/CEO, Embrace Living Communities. CEUs
Active aging posture perfectKeli Roberts
As people age, they often experience typical postural deviations that range from excessive kyphosis (where the upper back curves forward), or lordosis (where the lower back curves inward) that can be caused by sarcopenia, osteopenia or osteoporosis. Review the mechanisms of cause and effect. Learn valuable strategies to enhance posture and alignment in older adults in a hands-on, interactive environment through practical application.
You’ll be able to:
Recognize postural deviations and the typical musculoskeletal causes.
Review the stability/mobility relationships of the body and how they change with aging.
Develop an exercise program designed to enhance posture and alignment in older clients.
Faculty: Keli Roberts, ACSM, ACE, NASM, FAI, Owner, Keli Roberts Real Fitness. CEUs
Ageless mobility: Stability from the ground upLeslee Bender
Learn specific strategies and techniques to improve both mobility and stability. Explore the function of the foot and its role in human movement, and examine the ways a pain-free functional range of motion in the joints increases stability. This session will introduce some exercises and functional manipulation that trainers can use to enhance clients’ range of motion. It will also focus on stability with balance-enhanced movements to create dynamic balance and reaction. Take home strategies to use with a wide range of abilities and fitness levels.
You’ll be able to:
Implement specific programming to improve balance, mobility and stability for clients at all ability levels.
Evaluate participants’ abilities in order to choose specific movements based on this program.
Give participants new and creative movements that can help improve their self-esteem, posture, balance, flexibility and mobility.
When training employees, we should consider how adults learn and utilize appropriate strategies to increase team satisfaction. No one wants to try to stay awake through a dull seminar just to get a nugget of information that will be forgotten by the next day. Learn how the presenter addresses adult learning challenges to transform company culture, increase in-service attendance, and turn orientation from a chore into an engaging introduction to the community. Prioritize creativity and connection to ensure every training moment counts.
You’ll be able to:
Demonstrate strategies for teaching adult learners, emphasizing the role of said strategies in enhancing information retention, improving outcomes and increasing team satisfaction.
Practice integrating creative and innovative training techniques, such as film parodies, pop culture and games, into team in-services, orientations and initiatives.
Analyze and redesign onboarding and orientation strategies to foster a positive and cohesive company culture.
Faculty: Hayley Moseley, EdD, ACC, CADDCT, CDP, CMDCP, CDCM, CDCS, Director of Education, CC Young Senior Living. CEUs
Think together, thrive together! Brain-based emotional wellness programming for communitiesCynthia Green
Mental well-being is critical to healthy cognition and successful aging, yet many active-aging communities find it challenging to help elders build stronger social and emotional health. Brain-based emotional wellness programs are a resource that brings opportunities for greater mental well-being, sharper thinking, and social connection. Gain a deeper understanding of late-life psychological development and key tasks associated with the third stage of life, plus explore the relationship of mental health to cognitive vitality, and emotional well-being to everyday thinking. Brain-based emotional wellness programming will be shared through instruction and hands-on exploration.
You’ll be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge regarding the psychology of late-life development, including key tasks associated with healthy development.
Explain how brain-based emotional wellness programming targets cognitive, behavioral and social health for improved outcomes.
Evaluate wellness programming to increase brain-based emotional wellness opportunities by building out existing offerings or adding new programs.
Faculty: Cynthia Green, PhD, President, Total Brain Health, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. CEUs
Don’t let falls bring you downLysa Johnson & Danielle Alexander
Fall risk and resident falls are a huge concern within the aging population and senior care industry. This session will provide strategies and program components that can be implemented immediately to prevent falls and identify fall risks. Learn about a fall prevention program rolled out in 32 communities as part of a collaborative partnership, resulting in a 26% overall reduction in falls and a 10% reduction in falls with major injury. Associates also reported more confidence in risk identification and ownership in maintaining resident quality of life and mobility.
You’ll be able to:
Define a fall based on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ guidelines and examine concepts of preventing falls versus managing falls.
Discuss roles of interdisciplinary team members in fall prevention and analyze early indicators of fall risk in older-adult populations.
Examine fall prevention program components to integrate into senior care communities.
Faculty: Lysa Johnson, MAS CSD, ASHA CCC-SLP, Rehab Program Development Specialist, Benedictine; and Danielle Alexander, BS, OTRL, Regional Manager of Operations, Accelerated Care Plus. CEUs
HIIT training for the active-aging client: A functional approachRoberto Melani
Learn the principles of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) tailored specifically for fitness professionals and caregivers who work with the active-aging population. When adapted appropriately, HIIT can enhance cardiovascular health, strength and functional fitness while being safe and effective for older adults. Learn to design and deliver HIIT programs that focus on functional movements such as balance, coordination and strength. Get hands-on practice to modify intensity, duration and exercises to suit varying fitness levels and mobility needs while ensuring safety and minimizing risk.
You’ll be able to:
Design and implement functional HIIT programs that incorporate functional movements focusing on improving balance, coordination and strength for daily activities.
Modify HIIT workouts to accommodate varying fitness levels and mobility challenges, ensuring safety and reducing the risk of injury.
Apply progressive programming and recovery strategies to help clients build resilience, increase energy and maintain independence while staying engaged and motivated in their fitness routines.
Salsa is a social dance form that may be adapted to promote joy and connection in active-aging communities. Much like salsa music and sauce, salsa dance is known for its flavor and spice. In this somatic salsa dance workshop, feel the heat and the energetic dimension of this dance form beyond distinctive 1-2-3, 5-6-7 rhythms in your feet. Experience the joyful ways that salsa music animates soft bellies, relaxed shoulders, and loose knees and hips. Let go of bodily tensions and enjoy the experience of moving to music with others in playful ways. Gain the tools, practical experience and inspiration to introduce salsa dance in inclusive, community-building ways, and bring the joy of salsa dancing to your participants.
You’ll be able to:
Deeply listen to salsa music and recognize conga, bass and clave rhythms through interactive body percussion activities.
Walk to the rhythms of 1-2-3, 5-6-7 in playful, interactive ways.
Experience and recall the somatic release of a salsa shine, a side-by-side improvisational approach to moving and being moved by salsa music that is part of the social dance scene.
Faculty: Rebecca Lloyd, PhD, amateur world salsa champion, and Full Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa. CEUs
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10:35 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
That’s a Wrap!Presenter TBA
The journey isn’t complete until the final moment! Seize this chance to weave together every aspect of your ICAA Conference journey in an enjoyable conclusion. Embrace the knowledge gained, engage with the ICAA community, and get ready to leave the conference infused with fresh vitality and inspiration for the coming year.
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“The ICAA Conference was the most engaging and interactive conference I have ever attended. I brought back so many ideas for new or expanded programming to my Center.”
Sandy Lopez Senior Services Manager, City of Avondale Senior Center
