Connect with industry leaders, network with peers, and dive deep into the recruiting, staffing, and scheduling challenges facing the senior care industry.
NEW DATE! Wednesday, January 22, 2025
8:30am - 4:00pm
Upper Larimer, 3034 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205
8:30am - 4:00pm
Upper Larimer, 3034 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205
Brought to you by the good (and some bad) people of KARE.
All Colorado senior living, skilled nursing, and CCRC leaders are invited to join us for a day discovering:
• Original research on the wants, needs, and challenges of the senior care workforce.
• Lessons from Colorado peers on addressing staffing needs.
• Understanding trauma's impact on the Careforce and how to build a resilient team.
• Leveraging AI and new technologies to enhance recruiting, staffing, and retention.
• Key misconceptions operators have about why employees join or leave.
• Desired benefits among the Careforce (and common operator missteps).
• Current wage trends among the frontline Careforce.
• Lessons from Colorado peers on addressing staffing needs.
• Understanding trauma's impact on the Careforce and how to build a resilient team.
• Leveraging AI and new technologies to enhance recruiting, staffing, and retention.
• Key misconceptions operators have about why employees join or leave.
• Desired benefits among the Careforce (and common operator missteps).
• Current wage trends among the frontline Careforce.
Location
Upper Larimer
3034 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80205
3034 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80205
Date & Time
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
This is a FREE Event!
Leadership Keynote
Connection Drives Results
Dr. Michelle K. Johnston
Author and Podcast Host of The Seismic Shift Leadership
Professor at Loyola University New Orleans
Professor at Loyola University New Orleans
Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a best-selling Author, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, Podcast Host, and Management Professor at Loyola University New Orleans. Dr. Johnston will be taking the audience on a journey to become more effective leaders on how connection drives results through her research-based, three-step approach: Connection with yourself, Connecting with your Team, and Connecting with your Organization.
Dr. Michelle K. Johnston
Author and Podcast Host
of The Seismic Shift
Leadership professor at Loyola University New Orleans
of The Seismic Shift
Leadership professor at Loyola University New Orleans
Jack York
Co-Founder – iN2L Founder and Chief Story Teller, TaleGate
Cambria Jacobs
CEO
AgeTech Colorado
AgeTech Colorado
Charles Turner
CEO and Founder
KARE
KARE
Laura Cambria
SVP, Operations
KARE
KARE
Lindsay Evans
VP, Product
KARE
KARE
Schedule
8:30am - 8:45am
Coffee and Light Breakfast
8:45am - 9:15am
Welcome to KONNECTIONS | Denver - What is the Problem we are Trying to Solve?
Charles Turner | CEO and Founder, KARE
We all know there is a staffing crisis in senior care. That is no secret. But how big is the problem anyway? Will it get any better? If you are a senior care operator, are you a good employer? Or a bad employer? What really is a “caregiver” anyway? Why do they do what they do? And how have the labor dynamics shifted in Colorado since the COVID-19 Pandemic.
We all know there is a staffing crisis in senior care. That is no secret. But how big is the problem anyway? Will it get any better? If you are a senior care operator, are you a good employer? Or a bad employer? What really is a “caregiver” anyway? Why do they do what they do? And how have the labor dynamics shifted in Colorado since the COVID-19 Pandemic.
9:15am - 10:15am
Leadership Keynote: Connection Drives Results
Dr. Michelle K. Johnston | Author and Podcast Host of The Seismic Shift Leadership professor at Loyola University New Orleans
Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a best-selling Author, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, Podcast Host, and Management Professor at Loyola University New Orleans. Dr. Johnston will be taking the audience on a journey to become more effective leaders on how connection drives results through her research-based, three-step approach: Connection with yourself, Connecting with your Team, and Connecting with your Organization.
Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a best-selling Author, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, Podcast Host, and Management Professor at Loyola University New Orleans. Dr. Johnston will be taking the audience on a journey to become more effective leaders on how connection drives results through her research-based, three-step approach: Connection with yourself, Connecting with your Team, and Connecting with your Organization.
10:15am - 10:30am
Break
10:30am - 11:15am
You May Not Be as Good as You Think You Are (according to your frontline teams)
Laura Cambria | SVP of Operations, KARE
This session unpacks several in depth studies facilitated recently by KARE, surveying over 3,000 licensed caregivers and nurses as well as hundreds of senior care communities. When we compare the answers from caregivers with those from communities, in many cases, we get it very wrong.
You will learn:
• The latest careforce sentiments about their employers from the voices of thousands of nurses and caregivers
• Why caregivers want to work for you (and why they don’t).
• Why do team members leave? It is not always about pay.
• How senior care operators overestimate the value of their culture.
• What benefits do the careforce really want? It may not be what you are offering now.
• Strategies to improve retention and boost careforce satisfaction within your communities.
This session unpacks several in depth studies facilitated recently by KARE, surveying over 3,000 licensed caregivers and nurses as well as hundreds of senior care communities. When we compare the answers from caregivers with those from communities, in many cases, we get it very wrong.
You will learn:
• The latest careforce sentiments about their employers from the voices of thousands of nurses and caregivers
• Why caregivers want to work for you (and why they don’t).
• Why do team members leave? It is not always about pay.
• How senior care operators overestimate the value of their culture.
• What benefits do the careforce really want? It may not be what you are offering now.
• Strategies to improve retention and boost careforce satisfaction within your communities.
11:15am - 12:00pm
The Wisdom on Wheels Journey
Jack York | Co-Founder – iN2L Founder and Chief Story Teller, TaleGate
Jack will take you on a 5 year, 172,000 mile journey of interviewing residents and staff at senior living communities throughout the land. He will show the wit, wisdom and reflection of the residents, and the remarkable stories of front line workers. You will laugh, cry and reflect upon the lessons learned. And, most importantly, remember why you got into this profession in the first place...buckle up!!
Jack will take you on a 5 year, 172,000 mile journey of interviewing residents and staff at senior living communities throughout the land. He will show the wit, wisdom and reflection of the residents, and the remarkable stories of front line workers. You will laugh, cry and reflect upon the lessons learned. And, most importantly, remember why you got into this profession in the first place...buckle up!!
12:00pm - 12:45pm
Lunch
Please note any dietary restrictions in your registration.
12:45pm - 1:00pm
Unlocking Hiring, Retention and Staffing Using KARE
Steph Means | Chief Growth Officer, KARE
Has it been a while since you’ve used KARE? No problem! We are going to quickly highlight how customers are currently saving thousands of dollars every month by leveraging KARE to reduce overtime expenses, reduce hiring expenses and increase hiring velocity, and to see how your employment practices stack up against your competition.
Has it been a while since you’ve used KARE? No problem! We are going to quickly highlight how customers are currently saving thousands of dollars every month by leveraging KARE to reduce overtime expenses, reduce hiring expenses and increase hiring velocity, and to see how your employment practices stack up against your competition.
1:00pm - 1:45pm
Bright Spot Solutions: Bold Ideas, Lasting Impact
Moderator
Cambria Jacobs | CEO, AgeTech Colorado
Panelists
Francis LeGasse | Owner/Operator, Assured Senior Living
JM Simmonds | Owners/Operator, Clear Path Home Care & Riverside Home Care
Katherine Wells | Founder & CEO, Serenity
Melissa Mills, RN, BSN, MHA | Head of Content, Cinematic Health
The staffing crisis in senior living calls for bold, innovative solutions that go beyond compliance. While foundational tools like HIPAA-compliant communication and regulatory training are essential, they’re not enough to drive the transformation the industry needs.
This panel features industry leaders who are delivering game-changing outcomes in staff retention, satisfaction, and engagement:
- Leverage Data: Discover how benchmarking and industry insights empower leaders to make smarter, data-driven decisions.
- Transform Caregiver Stories into Action: Learn how understanding and operationalizing frontline caregiver experiences fosters meaningful connections and purpose.
- Redefine Retention: Explore how real-life storytelling and emotionally resonant training create engaged, purpose-driven teams.
- Empower with Technology: See how automated workflows and seamless communication drive efficiency, satisfaction, and cohesion.
Join us for an actionable conversation on how rethinking investments can deliver measurable solutions that truly move the needle on the staffing crisis.
Cambria Jacobs | CEO, AgeTech Colorado
Panelists
Francis LeGasse | Owner/Operator, Assured Senior Living
JM Simmonds | Owners/Operator, Clear Path Home Care & Riverside Home Care
Katherine Wells | Founder & CEO, Serenity
Melissa Mills, RN, BSN, MHA | Head of Content, Cinematic Health
The staffing crisis in senior living calls for bold, innovative solutions that go beyond compliance. While foundational tools like HIPAA-compliant communication and regulatory training are essential, they’re not enough to drive the transformation the industry needs.
This panel features industry leaders who are delivering game-changing outcomes in staff retention, satisfaction, and engagement:
- Leverage Data: Discover how benchmarking and industry insights empower leaders to make smarter, data-driven decisions.
- Transform Caregiver Stories into Action: Learn how understanding and operationalizing frontline caregiver experiences fosters meaningful connections and purpose.
- Redefine Retention: Explore how real-life storytelling and emotionally resonant training create engaged, purpose-driven teams.
- Empower with Technology: See how automated workflows and seamless communication drive efficiency, satisfaction, and cohesion.
Join us for an actionable conversation on how rethinking investments can deliver measurable solutions that truly move the needle on the staffing crisis.
1:45pm - 2:15pm
KARE | Your World is About to Change. Get Ready for It.
Charles Turner | CEO and Founder, KARE
Lindsay Evans | VP of Product, KARE
Employment costs are often two thirds of your operating budget. Yet our tools for staffing, recruiting and retaining employees have not really changed in decades. With the labor crisis only expected to get worse, it is time for us to leverage new technologies, Artificial Intelligence and local benchmarking to optimize all three aspects of employment: STAFFING, RECRUITING, RETENTION. This session will look at technologies that will touch on:
• FREE emerging technologies that will help optimize your staffing with far less human intervention
• How Artificial Intelligence is already improving staffing and recruiting - and it’s not just for writing better job posts!
• Are you a good operator? Are you sure? How much care do you offer your residents compared to your competition? How do your wages compare? Are you overpaying? Underpaying? Turnover is bad, but how does it compare to the rest of your market?
• I’m about to hire someone. How good are they, really?
Lindsay Evans | VP of Product, KARE
Employment costs are often two thirds of your operating budget. Yet our tools for staffing, recruiting and retaining employees have not really changed in decades. With the labor crisis only expected to get worse, it is time for us to leverage new technologies, Artificial Intelligence and local benchmarking to optimize all three aspects of employment: STAFFING, RECRUITING, RETENTION. This session will look at technologies that will touch on:
• FREE emerging technologies that will help optimize your staffing with far less human intervention
• How Artificial Intelligence is already improving staffing and recruiting - and it’s not just for writing better job posts!
• Are you a good operator? Are you sure? How much care do you offer your residents compared to your competition? How do your wages compare? Are you overpaying? Underpaying? Turnover is bad, but how does it compare to the rest of your market?
• I’m about to hire someone. How good are they, really?
2:15pm - 2:30pm
Break
2:30pm - 3:00pm
Trauma and Resilience – What You Don’t Know About Your Team Members
Laura Cambria | SVP of Operations, KARE
CMS has mandated that all frontline employees must be informed about how to provide trauma informed care to their residents. But how can we provide trauma informed care, when our team members are disproportionately affected by trauma themselves? In this groundbreaking study we will review the effects of personal trauma and toxic stress on our careforce and how it affects their behavior at work. Every wonder why your employees act the way they do? There maybe more than meets the eye!
CMS has mandated that all frontline employees must be informed about how to provide trauma informed care to their residents. But how can we provide trauma informed care, when our team members are disproportionately affected by trauma themselves? In this groundbreaking study we will review the effects of personal trauma and toxic stress on our careforce and how it affects their behavior at work. Every wonder why your employees act the way they do? There maybe more than meets the eye!
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Hack-a-thon: Let’s Fix this Sh*t! How Will You Tackle the Recruiting, Staffing, and Scheduling Challenges in 2025?
KONNECTIONS | Denver Attendees
When you register, you will be asked to share your recruiting, staffing, and scheduling challenges for 2025. These responses will be used to spark conversations with your peers. Determine the challenges that are most important and options for tackling and overcoming them in the new year. As a group you will develop an innovative new approach to tackling these issues and compete against other groups for the prize of the GREATEST SENIOR CARE EMPLOYMENT INNOVATOR OF ALL TIME!!! (ok, that’s an exaggeration. But still, this should be pretty fun) Awards will be give to the winning group! Wine, beer, and other beverages will be served!
When you register, you will be asked to share your recruiting, staffing, and scheduling challenges for 2025. These responses will be used to spark conversations with your peers. Determine the challenges that are most important and options for tackling and overcoming them in the new year. As a group you will develop an innovative new approach to tackling these issues and compete against other groups for the prize of the GREATEST SENIOR CARE EMPLOYMENT INNOVATOR OF ALL TIME!!! (ok, that’s an exaggeration. But still, this should be pretty fun) Awards will be give to the winning group! Wine, beer, and other beverages will be served!
4:00pm - 4:15pm
Closing Remarks and Discussion + Networking Happy Hour
Charles Turner | CEO and Founder, KARE
Upper Larimer Gallery
Don't miss out!
Register by Friday January 17, 2025.
We look forward to seeing in Denver!
We look forward to seeing in Denver!