Agenda

Whether you're a wellness coordinator, nurse, social worker, therapist, or business development professional, your conversations shape the care you deliver, the relationships you build, and the communities you serve. In this practical keynote, Dr. Jackie Stavros will introduce the 2 simple Appreciative Inquiry (AI) practices of Conversations Worth Having. This humanistic AI is one of the most effective and widely used approaches for creating positive change, building trust, and improving the outcomes of your conversations. These practices aren’t just tools for care coordination or program development, they’re transformative skills that can enhance your effectiveness at work, strengthen your relationships at home, and empower your role in creating thriving, resilient communities. Whether you’re supporting someone’s wellness journey or expanding the reach of CCAH services, conversations worth having can help you lead with compassion, clarity, and purpose.

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“There are four types of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are caregivers. Those who will be caregivers. And those who will need caregivers.” - Rosalynn Carter. This is a core premise behind the promise of memory support at Willow Valley Communities. At the Marlin and Doris Thomas Memory Center, opening in 2026, a graduated array of amenities and services will line the pathway for people living with dementia and their care partners. The Adult Day program will be an essential element for promoting socialization and preventing burnout, while the Brain Tech Center, Resource Lounge, Education Room, and Assessment Center will be dedicated spaces for the support, training, and education available and accessible to informal care partners from the community. Learn about the ongoing engagement and activation efforts designed to improve the confidence and comfort of care partners and how this new design will reinforce the model of Continuing Care at Home in our communities. 

While many aging services sponsor organizations are exploring the CCaH model as a way to reach and serve more older persons, as well as a strategy to growth venue and diversify services, many interested organizations are unclear about what starting a CCaH program looks like and what this process entails.  At this session you will hear from two colleagues – one who has consulted with numberous start-up CCaH programs and another who recently launched a new, very successful CCaH program – about the typical steps that it takes to start a new CCaH program from the ground up and what to anticipate in your CCaH journey.

Dorvie’s concierge services are built to complement and strengthen the mission of aging in place programs through CCaH partnerships nationwide. Dorvie simplifies the daily logistics of life by handling everything from home maintenance and cleaning, to pet care and transportation, so staff can stay focused on delivering high-quality care and support. With trusted, vetted providers, transparent pricing, and consolidated billing, Dorvie provides a seamless, reliable experience for both members and staff - helping older adults live well and thrive independently at home.

In 2022, Lutheran Services in America (LSA) created the Rural Aging Action Network (RAAN) as a national collaborative dedicated to expanding community-based services and supports to ensure independence and choice for older adults living in rural communities. LSA selected five provider organizations from four states to join the LSA RAAN Collaborative and help them build the infrastructure to address gaps in care for older adults. The LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston partnered with LSA to evaluate the RAAN’s effectiveness, impact, and value. This session will provide an overview of this innovative community-centered model and highlight findings from the evaluation.  

Similar in many ways to CCaH programs, Villages are community-based, nonprofit, grassroots organizations formed through a cadre of caring neighbors who want to change the paradigm of aging. Local Villages connect members to a wide array of practical support services and social connections that enable older adults to enjoy a rich, independent and healthy quality of life when they choose to age in their homes and communities. Villages build a sense of community and offer resources, services, programs and activities, including social and educational programs, health and wellness activities and volunteer assistance with transportation, light home maintenance, and technology coaching. At this session you will hear from the Village to Village Network which represents over 300 Villages nationwide, along with a collaborative partnership between a CCaH program and its local Village.

Technology has become part of our everyday lives, it impacts how we work, communicate, learn, travel and play. Technology in healthcare has changed lives in more ways than could have ever been imagined.  But adoption and acceptance of technology with older adults and in aging services is lagging behind.  For over 15 years, Lutheran SeniorLife has been bridging the gap between technologies designed to assist elders with living in place and Living an Abundant Life and those we serve. The SilverSmart program brings awareness, education, hands-on interaction and support with assistive technologies that support living at home safely while remaining active and engaged.  In addition to learning about the design, purpose and goals of the SilverSmart program, you will hear examples of the assistive technology devices available in the center, including their successful adoption and positive outcomes.

For older persons to successfully age as they want, planning and proactive steps are essential. Their plans should include how and where they want to grow older. It should advocate for them, respect their choices and help them stay as healthy and independent as possible while remaining in their long-standing homes. In this closing conference session, hear directly from a diverse group of Continuing Care at Home program members from different corners of the country. Discover why they chose the CCaH program model as their preferred plan and strategy to help them age gracefully and safely with dignity in their own homes.

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