Too often, organizations focus on retention strategies—trying to keep people from leaving—rather than investing in what makes them want to stay and thrive. Retention is the outcome, not the strategy. The real key is cultivating a workplace where people feel valued, developed, and connected to something bigger than themselves. Forget Retention. Think Investment! is a dynamic workshop that challenges leaders to shift their mindset from holding on to employees to actively pouring into them. When people feel invested in—through growth opportunities, meaningful recognition, and intentional culture —they don’t just stay longer, they contribute more deeply.

This workshop equips leaders to stop asking, “How do we make people stay?” and start asking, “How can we invest in people so they never want to leave?”

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session,80% of participants will report a knowledge gain of strategies to increase staff retention.

Learner Objectives:

1. Redefine retention as the result of genuine employee investment.
2. Identify high-impact ways to develop and support their teams.
3. Build trust, loyalty, and engagement through intentional leadership practices.
4. Create a culture where employees want to belong, grow, and lead.

In today’s competitive senior living landscape, great marketing isn’t about having the biggest team or the largest budget---it’s about having the right strategy. This insight‑packed session breaks down the five essential marketing must‑haves every Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing community needs to drive occupancy, strengthen reputation, and stand out in a crowded market. Attendees will walk away with practical, scalable tactics designed for real‑world constraints, plus fundamental and fresh ideas to elevate visibility, engage prospects, and empower lean teams to achieve outsized results. Perfect for leaders ready to do more with less...and succeed anyway!

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this education activity 80% of participants will self-report gained knowledge on nursing's impact on the care journey and stakeholder perspectives prior and post SNF, LTC, AL stay.

Learner Objectives:

1. Strengthen organizational identity and trust through intentional branding.
2. Maximize message clarity and impact across communication channels.
3. Elevate patient and stakeholder experience through UX/CX principles.
4. Improve systems and processes that affect admissions and the first 72 hours of care. 
5. Nurture high-value relationships.

Healthcare staff face increasing administrative demands that take valuable time away from resident care. This session explores practical ways artificial intelligence can reduce repetitive administrative work using tools many organizations already have in place. Through real-world case studies, participants will learn how AI can assist with scheduling coordination, shift handoff communication, and documentation workflows while keeping human judgment central to patient care. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to identify opportunities for AI in their own organizations and develop a simple implementation idea they can begin testing immediately.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, 80% of participants will self-report increased knowledge in identifying administrative healthcare tasks that can be safely supported by AI tools within existing workplace systems.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify common administrative and communication tasks in healthcare workflows that are appropriate for AI assistance.
2. Describe at least two real-world use cases where AI tools support scheduling coordination or shift handoff communication.
3. Differentiate between healthcare tasks appropriate for AI support and those requiring human clinical judgment and empathy.
4. Analyze a workflow in their organization to determine whether AI assistance could reduce administrative workload.
5. Develop a simple implementation idea for applying AI within an existing healthcare system or workflow.

Workforce turnover continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing skilled nursing facilities today. In this engaging and practical session, long-term care leaders will learn how to move beyond reactive staffing strategies and build a sustainable culture that keeps their best employees. The 90-Day Retention Revival Blueprint provides a structured leadership framework designed to improve staff engagement, reduce burnout, and strengthen workplace culture without adding additional burden to already stretched teams. Participants will explore evidence-based leadership rhythms that include daily connection practices, weekly engagement strategies, and measurable culture tools that can be implemented immediately in their facilities. Through real-world examples and practical implementation strategies, this session will equip administrators, nurses, and department leaders with the tools needed to improve staff morale, enhance team stability, and create an environment where employees want to stay and grow. Join us to discover how intentional leadership can transform retention, strengthen teams, and improve the quality of care in long-term care settings.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this educational session, 80% of participants will self-report an increased knowledge and confidence in implementing structured staff retention strategies within their long-term care facility, as measured by the post-session evaluation.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify key factors contributing to staff burnout and turnover within skilled nursing facilities and describe how these factors impact workforce stability and resident care outcomes.
2. Describe the core components of the 90-Day Retention Revival Blueprint, including leadership rhythms, recognition practices, and staff engagement strategies.
3. Analyze how structured leadership practices such as stay interviews, morale monitoring, and recognition rituals can influence staff engagement and retention in long-term care environments.
4. Apply practical leadership strategies that support daily, weekly, and monthly engagement rhythms designed to improve team communication and workplace culture.
5. Develop an actionable plan to implement at least one retention-focused leadership strategy within their facility to improve staff morale, reduce turnover, and strengthen team collaboration.

Managed care admissions can quickly become complex without clear workflows and strong coordination between clinical and operational teams. In this engaging session, skilled nursing leaders will explore a practical playbook for navigating managed care successfully - from authorization to discharge and appeals. Attendees will learn proven strategies to strengthen case management processes, improve communication between nursing and business office teams, and optimize reimbursement outcomes. Walk away with practical tools and five actionable best practices to help your organization improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, and maximize managed care success.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this presentation 80% of participants will report a knowledge gain of processes needed to improve managed care workflow.

Learner Objectives:

1. Attendees will understand the challenges of managed care contracting and learn how to capture maximum reimbursement from health plans.
2. Attendees will deep dive with us into operational and financial tactics that help a facility sustain long term success with our managed care population
3. Attendees will learn a strategy for business success utilizing smart commonsense approaches to empower your team, energize them with case management best practices and equip a business office to bill and collect each month timely

This presentation will provide an update on HFA rule revisions and the AFC single ruleset which combined the 6 current AFC rulesets. Participants will also learn about how to keep their workforce background check account information current. Additionally, the presentation will give an update on the new state licensing database and the 2026 license renewal cycle for HFAs.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, 80% of participants will report a knowledge gain on the new HFA and AFC rules being implemented in 2026.

Learner Objectives:

1. Understand revisions to AFC/HFA administrative rules.
2. Keep workforce background check account information current in accordance with state and federal laws.
3. Understand the new state licensing database will affect HFAs and the 2026 license renewal cycle for HFA.

The session will provide an overview of recent changes to regulatory guidance, including revisions to Chapters 5 and 7 of the State Operations Manual (SOM) and updates related to the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program. In addition, participants will receive an overview of quality assurance findings and Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) data, highlighting trends and areas of improvement. The presentation will also cover current initiatives from CMS and updates from the Bureau of Survey and Certification (BSC) and conclude with an opportunity for open dialogue.

Nurse Learner Outcome:  At the conclusion of this session, learners will self-report a knowledge gain of changes to the State operations manual and Special Focus Facility Program

Learner Objectives:

1. Articulate how changes in federal regulations and programs such as Special Focus Facility (SFF) impact facility compliance.
2. Discuss  BSC initiatives that impact LTC facilities.
3. Describe how BSC's quality assurance metrics are used to improve the survey process.

When things go wrong in an assisted living community, the first actions taken by staff and leaders can determine whether the situation stabilizes quickly or escalates into regulatory, safety, and reputational risk. This session provides Michigan assisted living leaders and nurses with a practical framework for responding to incidents such as falls, resident altercations, medication errors, elopement, and allegations of abuse or neglect. Participants will learn how to manage the critical first hour after an event, meet Michigan Homes for the Aged and Adult Foster Care regulatory expectations, conduct credible investigations, and turn incidents into opportunities for system improvement.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, at least 80% of participants will self-report an increase in knowledge of how to recognize and respond to incidents in assisted living settings.

Learner Objective:

1. Designed for real-world application, this session equips leaders with tools to protect residents, support staff, and strengthen safety systems when it matters most.
2. Identify common types of incidents in assisted living settings, including falls with injury, resident-to-resident altercations, medication errors, elopement, and allegations of abuse or neglect.
3. Describe the immediate actions required during the first hour after an incident to ensure resident safety, stabilize the environment, and initiate appropriate notifications and documentation.
4. Differentiate between objective documentation and investigative conclusions when recording incident details and timelines.
5. Apply a structured investigation process to analyze an incident and determine contributing factors or system failures.
6. Explain how incident findings can be incorporated into quality improvement efforts to reduce the likelihood of future adverse events in assisted living communities.

This program will provide Michigan skilled nursing facilities an overview of the changes for Medicaid rate setting, initial and final settlements, and related limits as allowed by the State Medicaid system, including QAS and QMI. This program will also provide an update related to Medicare reimbursement, and managed care trends. This program will also provide observations and trends derived from the PM 2026 SNF benchmarking report recently issued.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this educational activity, participants will self-report on the post session evaluation a knowledge gain of potential changes to Medicaid reimbursement for FY 2025 and potential impact on reimbursement, and the application of relevant benchmark data.

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe the changes in Medicaid rate setting, settlement, audit and related variable cost and plant limits for SFY 25-26, along with upcoming SFY 26-27 changes.
2. Discuss Medicare reimbursement Update.
3. Discuss findings in PM 2026 SNF Benchmarking Report

Medications don’t work the same for everyone—and the people who provide care are uniquely positioned to change that. This engaging session explores how pharmacogenomic testing can support safer, more effective, and more personalized medication management, particularly for older adults and those with complex care needs. Designed for nurse leaders and clinicians, the presentation connects science to real-world practice, highlighting how nurses can lead interprofessional conversations, support informed prescribing decisions, and inspire better outcomes. Attendees will leave with practical insights to identify who may benefit from testing, understand its advantages and limitations, and confidently advocate for precision medicine as part of high-quality, compassionate care.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, at least 80% of participants will self-report increased knowledge in applying pharmacogenomic concepts to patient-centered medication management, including identifying appropriate patients, understanding prescribing implications, and communicating value across the healthcare team.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify what pharmacogenomic testing is and how it can be utilized
2. Describe how pharmacogenetic tests can inform prescribing decisions
3. Discuss pros and cons of pharmacogenetic testing
4. Identify patients that could benefit from pharmacogenomic testing
5. Explain why pharmacogenomic testing is valuable to another healthcare professional

This presentation will provide a national regulatory update as it relates to skilled nursing facilities. We will cover important topics that leaders in the sector need to be aware of, including CMS areas of focus, AHCA's Better Way policy initiatives, and recent regulatory changes.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, 80% of participants will self-report knowledge gain in current CMS regulatory and citation trends.

Learner Objectives:

1. Analyze current national trends in skilled nursing facilities and identify top areas of focus.​
2. Communicate what AHCA has learned in terms of approach for the current Administration and apply that knowledge for our sector.​
3. Review recent regulatory updates through CMS and apply them to facility operations.

You face high-pressure conversations every day, from difficult discussions with families about care to crisis situations requiring calm authority to staff interactions where trust is built or broken in moments. This interactive session teaches the communication skills that professionals who perform under pressure use to succeed: projecting calm authority when you feel anxious, asking questions that invite honest dialogue and listening strategically to hear what people aren't saying out loud. Emmy Award-winning television anchor Christy McDonald brings 27 years of experience reading rooms, managing nerves on live camera, and asking questions that get to truth and she's teaching you how to do the same. Mixing stories from the anchor desk with live practice and the proven PAUSE framework for empathic listening, you'll walk away with immediately applicable techniques for your most challenging moments. This isn't theory, it's battle-tested skills for the people who power care. Come ready to participate, reflect, and transform how you show up when stakes are highest.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, 80% of participants will self-report a knowledge gain in:

1. Techniques for projecting calm authority and managing nerves during high-pressure conversations
2. Strategic questioning methods that build trust and invite honest dialogue
3. The PAUSE framework for empathic listening to understand what is truly being communicated
4. Reading non-verbal cues and body language to adjust their communication approach in real time

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify three specific body language techniques that project calm authority in high-pressure conversations with families, staff, and regulatory bodies.
2. Apply strategic questioning methods to build trust and invite honest dialogue rather than defensive responses in difficult interactions.
3. Demonstrate the PAUSE framework for empathic listening (Pause, Acknowledge, Understand, Sense emotion, Explore support) to understand what is being communicated beyond words.
4. Analyze techniques for managing nerves and maintaining composure when delivering difficult news or navigating crisis situations.
5. Create an actionable plan for implementing presence, questioning, and listening techniques in daily leadership interactions.

This session will provide an update on those areas of labor and employment law most likely to impact facilities going forward and discuss strategies to minimize potential liability and disruptions to operations.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of the session, 80% of participants will self-report a knowledge gain in the area of labor and employment law in post-session evaluations.

Learner Objectives:

1. Discuss recent legal trends impacting union and non-union workplaces throughout Michigan.
2. Understand common mistakes made by employers resulting in recent litigation.
3. Identify workplace pitfalls associated with legal guidance provided by artificial intelligence

Skilled nursing and assisted living providers sit at the center of an aging services sector undergoing rapid and uneven digital change. While EHR adoption has grown significantly, a recent Health IT Study reveals that interoperable exchange and advanced use of technology remain constrained by limited resources, workforce gaps, and insufficient policy levers tailored to the sector. A shifting federal landscape — from CMS quality reporting and prior authorization modernization to ASTP/ONC's evolving interoperability rules — is raising the stakes for owners and administrators who must make technology decisions today with tomorrow's requirements in mind. This session maps the forces shaping your technology journey and equips you to lead through it.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, 80% of participants will self-report a knowledge gain of the key organizational, workforce, and policy barriers influencing health IT adoption in LTPAC settings.

Learner Objectives:

1. Assess the current environment and key influences on health technology adoption in SNF and assisted living settings.
2. Describe the current and emerging federal policy requirements that owners and administrators must monitor to remain competitive and compliant.
3. Evaluate digital transformation strategies and emerging technologies that position SNF and AL organizations for long-term resilience and mission alignment.

Pain at end of life remains one of the most feared and misunderstood experiences in healthcare. This engaging continuing education session will explore the true definition of pain, dispel common myths, and examine barriers that prevent effective pain management. Participants will discuss the concept of a “good death,” review appropriate pain assessment tools for all patient populations, and identify evidence-based treatment options to ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life at the end of life.

Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this session, 80% of particiapnts will self report a knowledge gain of how to conduct comprehensive pain assessments and implement evidence-based pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies to effectively manage pain in patients at end of life.

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe common causes of pain at end of life.
2. Demonstrate accurate use of validated pain assessment tools for end of life patients, including those with cognitive impairment.
3. Evaluate patient response to pain interventions and adjust plan of care to optimize comfort.