Recordings

ACCME AND NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training provides skills to contact and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use challenge or experiencing a crisis.

This session provides a MHFA certification for three years.

The training covers:

• Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and substance use challenges.
• How to interact with a person in crisis.
• How to connect a person with help.
• Expanded content on trauma, substance use and self-care

The training is divided into three (3) parts:

Part 1 starts AFTER initial registration has been APPROVED by the instructor. Approved registrants will be emailed instructions on how to create an on-line profile using MHFA Connect and completing a pre-survey/quiz followed by a 2-hour self-paced online course. Registrants MUST complete Part 1 no less than 48 hours (two business days) prior to the scheduled Part 2 session.

Part 2 is a 5.5-hour live instructor led virtual training. Participants are required to be on camera the entire time.

Part 3 participants will return to MHFA Connect to complete the post test and evaluation, required to receive a certificate of participation.

7.75 NAB credits and 5.5 ACCME credits will be offered after completing this live training.

Registration is limited.

Speaker: Marti Vogt

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) often care for residents who are discharged from hospitals with opioid prescriptions for acute pain. In addition, many residents receive opioids for both acute and chronic pain management. However, prolonged use and higher doses significantly increase the risk of opioid use disorder (OUD).

In this presentation, Dr. Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, and Dr. Jenn Azen, MD, MPH, will explore how nursing facilities can implement effective opioid stewardship practices to minimize harm. This includes ensuring the right indication, right dose, and right duration of opioid therapy. The session will also cover evidence-based alternatives to opioids, adjunctive pain management strategies, and guidance on selecting appropriate opioids when long-term use is unavoidable.

Participants will gain practical strategies to reduce opioid-related risks while optimizing pain management for residents.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand strategies for developing an opioid treatment program at your facility
2. Discuss approach to assessing opioid orders on admission and create a plan to taper.
3. Recognize approaches to managing patients on chronic opioids and keeping them safe.
4. Implement an interdisciplinary opioid stewardship program and incorporate within a QAPI framework.

Speaker: Dr. Swati Gaur and Dr. Jenn Azen

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

The relationships formed between residents and staff in long-term care settings can foster mutual compassion and support overall well-being. In this training, Kristin M. MacDonald, PhD, MS, RD, will present original research highlighting the positive impact of experienced compassion at work on nursing facility direct caregivers. She will also clarify the distinction between empathy and compassion which are two closely related, but distinct elements central to person-centered care. Participants will take part in an interactive empathy mapping exercise focused on residents with complex behavioral health needs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the concepts of empathy, compassion, and “experienced compassion at work.”
2. Understand how compassion benefits the well-being of both nursing home residents and direct care staff.
3. Learn how to use empathy mapping to enhance caregiving practices by applying key insights of empathy and compassion.

Speaker: Kristin M. MacDonald, PhD, MS, RD

ACCME AND NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Nursing facilities serve a diverse population of racial and ethnic minority residents while providing high-quality care requires recognizing and addressing cultural and linguistic barriers. This webinar will introduce the National CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) standards, offering practical strategies for delivering respectful, effective, and equitable care. Participants will learn how to apply these standards to reduce health disparities and promote health equity in residential nursing facilities.

Learning Objectives:
1. Gain an understanding of the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards and their relevance in promoting health equity within nursing facilities.

1. Learn to identify and analyze cultural barriers faced by diverse adults and other health-impacted communities in nursing home settings, facilitating better service delivery.
2. Develop actionable strategies for implementing CLAS standards within facilities.

Speaker: Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

The COE-NF in collaboration with the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed), gather clinical and operational leaders for an open, interactive, solutions-focused conversation on integrating behavioral health into post-acute care.

Moving beyond traditional consult-only models, presenters will share practical strategies for embedding behavioral health as a core component of interdisciplinary teams. Through a conversational format and opportunities for audience participation, attendees will gain evidence-based insights and actionable approaches to support sustainable, team-based behavioral health care in post-acute and long-term care settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the role of behavioral health in post-acute care.
2. Explore best practices for care models that support behavioral health integration.
3. Share strategies for effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
4. Discuss the measurable impact of behavioral health integration.

Speakers: Tana Whitt, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC and Dr. Robert Russell

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care.
2. Learn what happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood.
3. Discover the basic concepts of trauma-informed care.

Speaker: Dr. LaVerne H. Collins, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Dr. Abhilash Desai and Mr. David Brog, LNHA MHA, will present strengths-based and trauma-informed, non-pharmacological psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing safety and reducing distress in residents with Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. The session will also highlight ineffective or counterproductive approaches that may escalate agitation and hinder de-escalation efforts.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify at least two evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
2. Learn techniques to de-escalate agitation and promote safety in residents experiencing psychotic symptoms.

Speakers:

Dr. Abhilash Desai

David Brog, LNHA MHA

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Dr. Abhilash Desai will explore how to distinguish schizophrenia from psychotic disorders caused by medications, medical conditions, and neurological disorders, including approaches to diagnostic workup and treatment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify at least one medication and one neurological condition that commonly causes schizophrenia-like psychotic symptoms.
2. Gain an understanding of the workup and treatment options for psychotic disorders due to medical and neurological conditions.

Speaker: Dr. Abhilash Desai, MD

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Dr. Abhilash Desai and Dr. Jenn Azen will discuss common substances that may cause psychotic symptoms, how to differentiate substance-induced psychotic disorder from Schizophrenia, workup for diagnosis and treatment of identified substance-induced psychotic disorder.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify at least three substances that commonly cause psychotic symptoms in nursing facility residents.
2. Gain an understanding of the workup and treatment options for substance-induced psychotic disorders.

Speakers:

Dr. Abhilash Desai, MD

Dr. Jenn Azen

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Dr. Abhilash Desai and Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities program manager,  Jennifer Goodpaster, will describe psychosis and initial steps to address psychotic disorders.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify two key psychotic symptoms commonly observed in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
2. Explore how to use the SBAR communication tool to effectively report assessment findings to physicians and advanced practice providers.

Speakers:

Dr. Abhilash Desai

Jennifer Goodpaster, BS, RN, RAC-CT, DNS-CT, QCP, CPHQ

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Explore the diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia and steps to make a clinical diagnosis. Learn the unique challenges posed by co-occurrence of schizophrenia and substance use disorder and simple and practical strategies to address the challenges and successfully treat both conditions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe core DSM 5 TR criteria for schizophrenia.
2. Discover four key steps to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
3. Learn signs and symptoms that help early identification of substance use disorder in individuals with schizophrenia.
4. Identify at least two best practices in management of substance use disorders in persons with schizophrenia.

Speaker: Dr. Abhilash Desai, MD

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhilash-desai-67303348

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE. 

In this informative training, nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care
2. What happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood
3. The basic concepts of trauma informed care

Speaker: LaVerne Hanes Collins, PhD, NCC, LPC (GA), LCMHC (NC)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavernehcollins/

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

This training is designed to give a brief overview of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), its symptoms, and how this can manifest in nursing facility residents. Discover ways for supporting and treating PTSD.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
2. Learn the symptoms of PTSD.
3. Discover ways to support individuals with PTSD.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryangstephens/

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE. 

A knowledge of substance use disorders and common behavioral symptoms are essential to understanding how to support residents with substance use disorders within the nursing home environment. This webinar will define substance use terminology, examine signs and symptoms and gain an awareness of substance use screening tools that can be used in nursing facilities. The importance of using stigma-free language for providing person centered care will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Distinguish between substance use, misuse, and substance use disorder.
2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of possible substance use.
3. Describe how recovery-oriented language can engage and support people with SUDs.

Speaker: Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

linkedin.com/in/diana-padilla-mcpc-carc-casac-t-a4504537

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE. 

This presentation focuses on the unique challenges and considerations associated with co-occurring disorders (medical/physical illness and/or mental health or substance use disorders) in nursing facility residents.

It explores the intersection of mental health disorders and substance use issues.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define substance use misuse, use, and co-occurring disorders.
2. Explore prevalence and trends in co-occurring disorders among nursing facility residents.
3. Understand risk factors and common presentations of co-occurring disorders in nursing facility residents.

Speaker: Emely Santiago Sosa, LMSW, MPH – https://www.linkedin.com/in/emely-santiago-lmsw-mph-a8606140/

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE. 

1. Define trauma and trauma informed care
2. What happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood
3. The basic concepts of trauma informed care

Speaker: LaVerne Hanes Collins, PhD, NCC, LPC (GA), LCMHC (NC) – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavernehcollins/

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

Mental health and substance use disorders are becoming increasingly common in nursing facility populations, highlighting the urgent need for staff who are equipped to recognize and respond to these challenges. One effective solution may lie in establishing a Behavioral Health Ambassador program.

Behavioral health ambassadors play a key role in advancing mental health initiatives and fostering a supportive environment within nursing facilities. This webinar will walk you through the steps to successfully launch and sustain a Behavioral Health Ambassador program at your facility. By doing so, you’ll empower your team with the skills and knowledge needed to address behavioral health concerns and drive positive, lasting change.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the role and value of a behavioral health ambassador.
2. Identify key steps for program development and implementation.
3. Develop a foundational and ongoing behavioral health education plan.

Speaker: Sherri Creel, LMHC, MS – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-creel-058401205/

and Wilbert Martin, MBA, BA, CACII – https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilbert-martin-79a623285/

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

This session is an introductory training to help identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health disorders. Join us as we address some of the common causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of mental health symptoms among nursing home residents and share common warning signs and practical strategies on how staff can support improving resident mental wellness. Participants will also gain helpful strategies for suicide prevention and de-escalation techniques.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define and discuss common mental health disorders in nursing facilities.
2. Discuss causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of symptoms.
3. Provide awareness of suicide prevention and helpful strategies to assist residents.
4. Identify helpful de-escalation strategies nursing home staff can use to support residents with mental health conditions.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryangstephens/

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

Utilize the Columbia protocol also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to learn how to utilize the six simple questions to identify whether a resident is at risk for suicide. The responses will help assess the severity and immediacy of that risk and determine the level of support needed.

Participants will learn to ask:

• Whether a resident has thoughts about suicide (ideation)
• What actions a resident have taken to prepare for suicide
• Whether a resident attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition.

Speaker: Adam Lesser, LCSW

Connect with him on LinkedIn – Adam Lesser

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

While psychotropic medications can be valuable for mental wellness, there are many effective nonpharmacological interventions available. This presentation will introduce various non-drug approaches for residents in nursing facilities. Attendees will learn about a comprehensive bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to mental health, illustrated with real-life case examples. The session will also cover the development of person-centered strategies to address mental illness, aiming to improve symptoms and reduce the need for PRN (as-needed) medication requests or emergency hospitalizations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand and apply person-centered care principles in geriatric populations.
2. Recognize the presence and impact of mental illness on nursing facility residents.
3. Develop and implement a comprehensive approach to mental illness using nonpharmacological interventions.

Speaker: Dr. Anthony Nedelman

Connect with him on LinkedIn – Dr. Anthony Nedelman

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

This training will focus on the recent updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance to surveyors concerning informed consent and the management of psychotropic medications in nursing facilities. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of how to apply principles of medication stewardship in managing psychotropic medications, as well as how to implement a team approach to enhance the quality of care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the latest CMS guidelines regarding the use of psychotropic medications and the significance of informed consent to ensure compliance and quality of care.
2. Establish and apply protocols for the gradual reduction of psychotropic medications when appropriate, ensuring personalized assessment and ongoing evaluation of the residents’ needs.
3. Promote teamwork among physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers to enhance medication management practices and ensure comprehensive care for residents receiving psychotropic medications.

Speaker:

1. Jennifer Massey, PharmD – connect on LinkedIn
2. Jacob “Jay” Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM – Program Director; connect on LinkedIn
3. Jennifer Goodpaster, BS, RN, RAC-CT, DNS-CT, QCP, CPHQ – Program Manager; connect on LinkedIn

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

In this 45-minute training, nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care
2. What happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood
3. The basic concepts of trauma informed care

Speaker: Dr. LaVerne H. Collins, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

Connect with the presenter on LinkedIn – Dr. LaVerne H. Collins

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

This training will outline factors that contribute to escalating behaviors and strategies to safely defuse situations. In addition, we will discuss how staff’s behaviors and communication style can affect desired outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify what contributes to escalating behaviors and how appropriate staff responses can positively impact outcomes.
2. Recognize how communication skills are important for building rapport with residents in crisis.
3. Learn strategies and techniques to help manage crisis situations.

Speaker: Barbara Bull, RN, BSN – bbull@jaghealthcare.com

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

This session will provide an introduction to addiction, its effects on brain functioning, and how it fits into the chronic disease model. We will review DSM-5-TR criteria and the placement dimensions from ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) to support care planning.

Learning Objectives:

1. Attendees will gain an understanding of how addiction impacts the brain; consequences of addiction and behaviors residents dealing with addiction might exhibit.
2. Attendees will gain an understanding of DSM-5-TR criteria for addiction to support treatment referrals.
3. Attendees will gain an understanding of basic addiction screening tools.

Speaker: Dr. Malcolm Horn, LCSW, MAC, SAP

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

This half-hour training will introduce staff to a basic understanding of bipolar disorder, its onset, symptoms, and treatments. Participants will leave with an understanding of this mood disorder and able to identify its symptoms and approaches to help residents experiencing challenges from bipolar disorder.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain an understanding of bipolar disorder.
2. Participants will be able to recognize and understand signs and symptoms of mania and depression.
3. Participants will learn appropriate responses of engagement with residents.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

Connect with the presenter on LinkedIn – Bryan G. Stephens

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

1. Describe person-centered care as it relates to nursing facilities and staff practice.
2. Identify how stigma and bias induces assumptions that impact rapport building and interactions.
3. Identify the benefits of an “individualized” approach to resident engagement.
4. Learn how person-centered care as a collaborative strategy can help residential nursing home staff and residents achieve care plan goals.

Speaker:

Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

Connect with the presenter on LinkedIn – Diana Padilla

ACCME AND NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE

Join the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) team as they showcase their new in-service toolkits and demonstrate how to use them effectively to enhance team training in nursing facilities. These toolkits address essential topics such as de-escalation, substance use disorder, and major depressive disorder. Designed to guide facility education leads, the toolkits provide comprehensive support for every step of the training process, from scheduling and promoting to hosting and facilitating behavioral health education sessions.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover how a multipronged training approach promotes engagement, increases competency, and reinforces different learning styles.
• Learn the purpose, and key features of the COE-NF Inservice Toolkits.
• Understand how to utilize these innovative toolkits to simplify the behavioral health training process.

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

1. Define and discuss common mental health disorders in nursing facilities.
2. Discuss causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of symptoms.
3. Provide awareness of suicide prevention and helpful strategies to assist residents.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

ACCME CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE

This training will help your team seamlessly transition residents on methadone from the hospital to the skilled nursing environment. This guide outlines a clear, step-by-step approach to effectively implement Methadone treatment for individuals with pain or opioid use disorders within nursing facilities. By following these carefully crafted steps, healthcare providers can ensure a safe and supportive environment that promotes recovery and enhances the well-being of residents.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to differentiate the indication (reason) for methadone, whether for pain or opioid use disorder.
2. Review the process for coordinating methadone logistics with the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP).
3. Explore the effective utilization of the COE-NF Methadone Checklist to develop policies and procedures that support the care of residents on methadone.

Speaker: Dr. Swati Gaur & Dr. Azen

ACCME CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE

Discover the basic strategies for implementing and maintaining a successful behavioral management program in your long-term care setting. Topics include leadership, regulatory compliance, documentation, care planning, and resident level management strategies. Participants will have a better understanding of how to manage their behavioral residents and implement successful processes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify common characteristics of resident behavior and their unique needs in the long-term care environment.
2. Recognize the inherent challenges that come with a behavioral health model.
3. Use appropriate and effective team strategies to manage resident behaviors in the long-term care setting.

Speaker: Barbara Bull, RN, BSN

ACCME CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE

There are many people around the world who suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 65% to 90% of nursing home residents have a mental disorder ranging from common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression to serious mental illnesses (SMI) like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This session will introduce SMI, an understanding of SMI, and how using a 5-step model for care is effective in assisting staff in supporting residents when a serious mental Illness diagnosis.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define serious mental illness and list the four major categories of SMI.
2. Describe the differences between SMI and dementia and note misperceptions about SMI.
3. Describe the recovery model and list the five steps in the CARES approach for SMI care.

Speaker:

Debbie Richman, BS, CDS

In this informative session, losses such as deaths, ending of careers, new locations, health, and other losses will be examined and solutions to grief will be presented. There is an emphasis on not being alone and connecting with grief support groups, filling a memory box, creating a grief journal, and discovering alternatives such as participating in new hobbies, adopting a pet, volunteering or dating, in cases of spousal deaths. Reactions of grief, dealing with holidays and reviewing one’s spirituality will be explored. Positive actions in bereavement, self-care and assisting the bereaved will also be discussed. Resources will be available.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discern the difference between grief in older adults and how it may differ from younger people.
2. Describe effective support and communication with older adults in grief and bereavement.
3. Describe ways to direct individuals to continue with a quality life starting over in a different realm.

Speaker: Dr. Malcolm Horn, Ph.D., LCSW, MAC, SAP

The fundamentals of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and its effects on holiday depression will be discussed. This training is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of depression, seasonal onset, symptoms, and treatments to support residents experiencing challenges from SAD.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a basic understanding of seasonal depression during the holidays.
2. Recognize and understand signs, symptoms, and triggers of seasonal depression.
3. Learn helpful responses to engage with residents.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

Grief and loss symptoms from resident death are often similar to those experienced from family or friend loss. This webinar session will provide an overview of the bereavement concerns that can arise when nursing home residents and staff experience the death of a resident. Content will review the emotional and psychological responses to loss through the five stages of grief. The discussion will further inform on postvention activities to support self-care and healing for residents and nursing home staff.

Learning Objectives:

1. List types of grief and symptoms.
2. Define the five stages of grief and potential impacts.
3. List strategies for self-support and healing.
4. Identify facility “postvention” activities to support nursing facility staff and residents after loss. List practical strategies for building resiliency.

Speaker:

Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

Part 2 of this training series is designed to provide information, strategies, and engagement tools that can be used to create calm for the distressed resident, while ensuring the delivery of effective care. Participants will improve their self-awareness regarding their own reactions to distress, in addition to discussing risk, safety factors and concrete tools for creating calm.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop greater empathy and understanding related to distress.
2. Gain insight into personal reactions to distressed residents.
3. Review tools for responding to distress that will improve staff and resident engagement.
4. Identify risk and safety boundaries.

Speaker:

Mathew R. Roosa, LCSW-R

This two-part training series is designed to provide information, strategies, and engagement tools that can be used to create calm for the distressed resident, while ensuring the delivery of effective care. Participants will improve their self-awareness regarding their own reactions to distress, in addition to discussing risk, safety factors and concrete tools for creating calm.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop greater empathy and understanding related to distress.
2. Gain insight into personal reactions to distressed residents.
3. Review tools for responding to distress that will improve staff and resident engagement.
4. Identify risk and safety boundaries.

Panelists:

Mathew R. Roosa, LCSW-R

This training is designed to give a brief overview of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its symptoms, and how this can manifest in nursing facility residents. We will review ways for supporting and treating PTSD.

Learning Objectives:

1. What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
2. What are symptoms of PTSD?
3. What are ways to support individuals with PTSD?

Speaker:

Bryan Stephens

Despite the demands that come with working in a nursing facility, staff are dedicated to their craft and enjoy a deep satisfaction from helping care for residents. The other side of the job brings pressures that can increase susceptibility to exhaustion leading to compassion fatigue and other occupational hazards. This interactive webinar will identify and define elusive work-related conditions and the emotional and physical toll that can occur over time. Content will include strategies to prevent and cope with compassion fatigue through building resiliency and practicing self-care. Nursing facility staff will learn prevention efforts to take care of themselves, both personally and professionally, and consequently residents in care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review work dynamics that affect a nursing facility staff’s ability to take care of themselves.
2. List potential effects that staff’s secondary trauma can have on their residents.
3. List warning signs of the dedicated but stressed-out nursing facility staff.
4. List practical strategies for building resiliency.

Speakers:

Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

While psychotropic medications can be valuable for mental wellness, there are many effective nonpharmacological interventions available. This presentation will introduce various non-drug approaches for residents in nursing facilities. Attendees will learn about a comprehensive bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to mental health, illustrated with real-life case examples. The session will also cover the development of person-centered strategies to address mental illness, aiming to improve symptoms and reduce the need for PRN (as-needed) medication requests or emergency hospitalizations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand and apply person-centered care principles in geriatric populations.
2. Recognize the presence and impact of mental illness on nursing facility residents.
3. Develop and implement a comprehensive approach to mental illness using nonpharmacological interventions.

Speakers:

Dr. Anthony Nedelman, PhD

In this brief 30-minute training, nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care.
2. What happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood.
3. The basic concepts of trauma informed care.

Speaker:

Dr. LaVerne H. Collins, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

The purpose of this training is to equip nursing facility staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize, assess, and respond effectively to co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance use disorders) among residents, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided in the facility.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define co-occurring disorders.
2. Recognize the prevalence and common types of co-occurring disorders among elderly populations.
3. Identify signs and symptoms of co-occurring disorders in nursing facility residents.
4. Understand the importance of holistic care and interdisciplinary collaboration in managing co-occurring disorders.

Speaker:

Rosalyn D. Davis, MSCJ, MATS, CADC-II, ICADC

This session will assist members of the interdisciplinary team to gain confidence and competence in screening and assessing long term care residents with suicidal ideation and/or suicidal behavior. With a lack of availability of behavioral health clinicians across many long-term care settings, it is imperative for front-line clinicians and staff to have the skills to assess a resident for suicidal ideation and to initiate appropriate interventions to keep the resident safe in the least restrictive environment. The epidemiology of suicide in long term care settings, risk factors, and protective factors will be discussed. Best practices for suicide screening, comprehensive assessment, and early intervention will be described and applied to a case study.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe at least two risk factors and protective factors for suicidal ideation in long term care settings.
2. Discuss best practices for screening and comprehensive assessment of suicidal ideation in long term care settings.
3. Develop an initial management plan for a long-term care resident who is experiencing suicidal ideation.

Panelists:

Megan Pesansky, MSW, LSW

Allison Villegas, PA-C

In recognition of National Recovery Month, join this live virtual session to learn about how addiction occurs and discover strategies for addressing the needs of residents with substance use disorders in nursing facilities. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from a panelist with lived experience as she shares her recovery journey and discusses the Twelve Steps of the Recovery Program.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the science of addiction.
2. Explore the complex needs of nursing home residents with substance use disorders (SUD).
3. Learn strategies that nursing facility staff can use in working with residents with a SUD.
4. Gain an awareness that recovery is possible from an individual with lived experiences in long-term recovery.
5. Gain an understanding of the Twelve Steps Recovery Program.

Speakers:

Jen Azen, MD, MPH

Crystal Daniel, MSW, LCDC

In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, join our virtual webinar and panel discussion focused on addressing suicide in nursing facilities. Suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and attempts are increasingly common among the nursing facility population, with rates rising steadily over the past decade and expected to continue increasing in the coming years. Suicide is largely preventable, with many modifiable risk factors. During this webinar, panelists will discuss the general prevalence of suicide, with a particular emphasis on suicidal behaviors in nursing facilities. They will also outline risk and protective factors and offer practical strategies that nursing facilities can implement to reduce the risk of suicide among their residents.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify at least two modifiable risk factors for suicide.
2. Outline at least two protective factors for suicide.
3. Discuss at least two practical steps nursing facilities can take to reduce the risk of suicide among their residents.

Panelists:

Dr. Abhilash Desai

Adam Lesser

Megan Pesansky, MSW, LSW

Allison Villegas, PA-C

For people with serious mental illness (SMI), transitions from the nursing home to the hospital or the community, or from the hospital to the nursing home, each bring their own set of challenges. This webinar will address the common barriers that exist around transitions of care for people with SMI and provide strategies and tips for optimizing transitions and ensuring the best possible care for these patients. Panelists will discuss ways to identify and engage community and facility resources, improve communication within the interprofessional team, and work with families to clarify expectations and care goals.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe specific challenges that exist when transitioning a person with SMI from an acute care setting to the nursing home, and from the nursing home to an acute care setting or the community.
2. Review effective discharge management processes for patients with SMI, ensuring smooth transitions and continuity of care.
3. Identify the psychological and psychiatric supports that are needed before, during and after transitions and determine when a referral to a psychiatric facility is needed.
4. Implement tools to ensure optimal communication between the behavioral health provider, medical provider, nursing, administrator, social worker, and other members of the interprofessional team.

Ideal for medical directors, primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, certified nursing home administrators working in long-term care facilities.

Moderator:

Sing Palat, MD, CMD, Medical Director and Physician, Optum Senior Community Care and Long-term Care Rehab

Panelists:

1. Tana Whitt, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, MindCare Solutions
2. Lauren Gleason, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine
3. Nadia Abbas, MBBS LCSW, Director of Care Coordination, UChicago Medicine
4. Barbara Bates, RN, MSN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT

In this brief 30-minute training, nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning objectives:

1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care.
2. Learn what happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood.
3. Discover the basic concepts of trauma-informed care.

Speaker:

Dr. LaVerne H. Collins, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC, Owner, New Seasons Counseling, Training & Consulting, LLC

Are you ready to overcome challenges in implementing CLAS Standards for behavioral health in nursing facilities? Join us in a brief 30-minute training about practical strategies and resources needed to address these pressing issues. Discover how you can effectively integrate CLAS standards into your nursing facility practices to improve behavioral health outcomes and ensure equitable care for all.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will be able to recognize the 15 action steps for providing CLAS standards.
2. Participants will gain an awareness of practical ways to implement CLAS standards to enhance behavioral health equity.
3. Participants will be able to identify resources to help improve CLAS implementation.

Speaker:

Naisha A. Fray, MA, MSPH, CEO, Niasha Fray Consulting. LLC

This session will assist members of the interdisciplinary team to gain confidence and competence in screening and assessing long term care residents with suicidal ideation and/or suicidal behavior. With a lack of availability of behavioral health clinicians across many long-term care settings, it is imperative for front-line clinicians and staff to have the skills to assess a resident for suicidal ideation and to initiate appropriate interventions to keep the resident safe in the least restrictive environment. The epidemiology of suicide in long term care settings, risk factors, and protective factors will be discussed. Best practices for suicide screening, comprehensive assessment, and early intervention will be described and applied to a case study.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe at least two risk factors and protective factors for suicidal ideation in long term care settings.
2. Discuss best practices for screening and comprehensive assessment of suicidal ideation in long term care settings.
3. Develop an initial management plan for a long-term care resident who is experiencing suicidal ideation.

Speakers:

Allison Villegas, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Longevity Health Plan
Megan Pesansky, MSW, LSW, LAC, Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist, Wellpower

Residents with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders continue to be admitted to nursing homes, yet staff often lack skills and confidence in meeting their needs. This session will share strategies for proactive assessment and identification of effective individualized interventions to meet the behavioral health needs of residents at all phases of their mental illness. Additionally, resources and facility-wide best practices will be reviewed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify three strategies for management of behavioral health conditions
2. Understand symptom presentation at different phases of common serious mental illnesses
3. Describe the difference between interventions planned for lower and higher intensity of behavioral health symptoms.

Speaker:

Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM

Program Director

Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities

This webinar will introduce participants to AMDA-The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine’s Clinical Practice Guideline on Pain Management in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Setting and highlight non-opioid medications and non-pharmacological treatment options for managing pain. We will also discuss managing pain in patients with substance use disorder and high-risk patients, and present harm reduction strategies for pain with buprenorphine. The session will also include an interactive discussion between panelists about current challenges and effective strategies for pain management in the nursing home setting and invite questions and comments from participants.

1. Identify pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options that are appropriate and effective for patients with substance use disorder who are experiencing pain.
2. Differentiate between opioid use disorder, opioid dependence, chronic pain syndrome, and opioid use without dependence to determine appropriate treatment.
3. Apply strategies to safely taper and discontinue use of opioids in high-risk patients.
4. Describe when and how to use buprenorphine.

Ideal for medical directors, primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, certified nursing home administrators working in long-term care facilities.

Moderator:

Tana Whitt, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, MindCare Solutions

Panelists:

1. Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing
2. Jenn Azen, MD, MPH, Board-certified internal medicine and addiction medicine physician, University of Washington School of Medicine
3. Anthony Nedelman, PhD, Director of Psychology Services, MindCare Solutions

In this brief 30-minute training, nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning objectives:

1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care.
2. Learn what happens to the traumatized body and why trauma behavior is misunderstood.
3. Discover the basic concepts of trauma-informed care.

Speaker:

Dr. LaVerne H. Collins, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

Owner

New Seasons Counseling, Training & Consulting, LLC

This training is designed to give a brief overview of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), its symptoms, and how this can manifest in nursing facility residents. Discover ways for supporting and treating PTSD.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
2. Learn the symptoms of PTSD.
3. Discover ways to support individuals with PTSD.

Speaker:

Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

Founder and CEO

TalkForward

This training provides a trauma-informed overview of effective de-escalation strategies within the nursing facility. Participants will learn practical techniques to effectively manage and de-escalate crisis situations.

Learning objectives:

1. To educate nursing facility staff about de-escalation strategies to effectively manage challenging behaviors among residents.
2. To provide nursing facility staff with the knowledge and skills of trauma-informed care principles when delivering care and implementing de-escalation interventions.
3. To equip nursing facility staff with practical skills to effectively implement de-escalation techniques when encountering escalated situations with residents, fostering a safe and supportive environment.
4. To assist nursing facility staff in enhancing their communication and engagement skills, including active listening, empathy, and non-verbal communication, to effectively interact with residents and prevent escalation of behaviors.

Speaker:

Joseph Madonia, LCSW-R, CASAC

Graduate Professor and Director

New York University Silver School of Social Work and Joseph Leroy and Ann C. Warner Fund

The Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) (suicidesafetyplan.com) is now widely recognized as a gold-standard, innovative suicide prevention intervention. First developed for the Veterans Administration, it has been implemented in many systems across the US and abroad with tremendous benefit. The purpose of the SPI is to provide people who have experienced a suicidal crisis with a specific set of coping strategies and resources to decrease the risk of suicidal behavior. This workshop will review the development of the SPI and its administration.

Learning objectives:

1. Explain the rationale for implementing the Safety Planning Intervention.
2. Describe how utilizing a systemic best practice intervention, results in improved client outcomes, which ultimately saves lives.
3. Learn the steps to completing the Safety Planning Intervention with clients.

Speaker:

Adam Lesser, LCSW

Licensed clinical social worker and assistant professor of clinical psychiatric social work

Columbia University and the Columbia Lighthouse Project

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE SLIDES.

This presentation focuses on the unique challenges and considerations associated with co-occurring disorders in nursing facility residents. It explores the intersection of mental health disorders and substance use issues.

Learning objectives:

1. Define substance use misuse, use, and co-occurring disorders.
2. Explore prevalence and trends in co-occurring disorders among nursing facility residents.
3. Understand risk factors and common presentations of co-occurring disorders in nursing facility residents.

Speaker:

Emely Santiago Sosa, LMSW, MPH

Project Director and Regional Coordinator

Opioid Response Network (ORN) and Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center (NeC-ROTAC) HHS Region 2

This session is an introductory training to help identify, understand, and respond to mental health disorders. It also includes helpful strategies for suicide prevention and de-escalation techniques applicable to nursing homes.

Learning objectives:

1. Define and discuss common mental health disorders in nursing facilities.
2. Discuss causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of symptoms.
3. Provide awareness of suicide prevention.
4. Identify helpful de-escalation strategies nursing home staff can use to support residents with mental health conditions.  ‌

Speaker:

Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

Founder and CEO of TalkForward

A knowledge of substance use disorders and common behavioral symptoms are essential to understanding how to support residents with substance use disorders within the nursing home environment. This webinar will define substance use terminology, examine signs and symptoms and gain an awareness of substance use screening tools that can be used in nursing facilities. The importance of using stigma-free language for providing person centered care will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

1. Distinguish between substance use, misuse, and substance use disorder.
2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of possible substance use.
3. Describe how recovery-oriented language can engage and support people with SUDs.

Speaker:

Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

Research Project Manager

Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Technology Transfer

Nursing facility residents are impacted by historical and intergenerational trauma that goes deep and wide for many racially minoritized groups in the United States. Whether the trauma is recognized openly or tucked deeply into the subconscious, it is often characterized by emotional, physical, and psychological wounds that bleed through generations and across one’s lifespan. In this session, nursing facility staff will gain an awareness to consider the “generations-later” mental health effects of African American slavery, the Jewish Holocaust, the Native American Indian experience, and Latinx immigration trauma that residents may have experienced.

Learning objectives:

1. Explain the concepts of historical, race-based, and intergenerational trauma.
2. Consider the intergenerational and historical trauma experiences of Black, Latinx, and Native Americans.
3. Discuss how the biology of trauma can negatively impact trust in caregivers.

Speaker:

Dr. LaVerne Collins, PhD, NCC, LPC (GA), LCMHC (NC)

Owner

New Seasons Counseling, Training & Consulting, LLC

There are many people around the world who suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 65% to 90% of nursing home residents have a mental disorder ranging from common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression to serious mental illnesses (SMI) like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This session will introduce SMI, an understanding of SMI, and how using a 5-step model for care is effective in assisting staff in supporting residents when a serious mental Illness diagnosis.

Learning objectives:

1. Define serious mental illness and list the four major categories of SMI.
2. Describe the differences between SMI and dementia and note misperceptions about SMI.
3. Describe the recovery model and list the five steps in the CARES Approach for SMI care.

Speaker:

Debbie Richman, BS, CDS

Director of Education and Client Development

HealthCare Interactive, Inc.

Utilize the Columbia Protocol also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to learn how to utilize the six simple questions to identify whether a resident is at risk for suicide. The responses will help to assess the severity and immediacy of that risk and determine the level of support needed.

Learning objectives:

Participants will learn to ask:

1. Whether a resident has thoughts about suicide (ideation).
2. What actions a resident have taken to prepare for suicide.
3. Whether a resident attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition.

Speaker:

Adam Lesser, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatric Social Work and Deputy Director

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University School of Social Work, the Columbia Lighthouse Project at the New York State Psychiatric Institute

Attendees can participate at any time in the series.

Join this final session of the schizophrenia in long-term care series to wrap-up and review the key points of the information shared throughout the series.

Attendees can participate at any time in the series.

Learn the unique challenges posed by co- occurrence of schizophrenia and substance use disorder and simple, practical strategies to address the challenges and successfully treat both conditions.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss signs and symptoms that help early identification of substance use disorder in individuals with schizophrenia
2. Identify at least two best practices in management of substance use disorders in persons with schizophrenia

Attendees can participate at any time in the series.

Explore the biopsychosocial approach to treatment and discuss the risks and benefits of antipsychotics.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the biopsychosocial approach to comprehensive treatment of schizophrenia
2. Discuss common adverse effects of antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia

Attendees can participate at any time in the series.

Learn common conditions and disorders that may mimic schizophrenia-like symptoms and how to differentiate them from schizophrenia.

Learning objectives:

1. Identify at least three conditions that mimic schizophrenia symptoms
2. Discuss workup that may help differentiate schizophrenia from other conditions presenting with schizophrenia-like symptoms.

Attendees can participate at any time in the series.

Explore the diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia and steps to make a clinical diagnosis.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe core DSM 5 TR criteria for schizophrenia
2. Discuss four key steps to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Are you ready to overcome challenges in implementing CLAS standards for behavioral health in nursing facilities? Join us for a brief 30-minute training about practical strategies and resources needed to address these pressing issues. Discover how you can effectively integrate CLAS standards into your nursing facility practices to improve behavioral health outcomes and ensure equitable care for all.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to recognize the 15 action steps for providing CLAS standards.
2. Participants will gain an awareness of practical ways to implement CLAS standards to enhance behavioral health equity.
3. Participants will be able to identify resources to help improve CLAS implementation.

Speaker: Naisha A. Fray, MA, MSPH

In this brief 30-minute training session, nursing facility staff will explore the principles of trauma-informed care and learn techniques for creating a safe environment where both residents and staff can thrive.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to define trauma informed care.
2. Participants will be able to recognize trauma triggers.
3. Participants will learn easy to implement techniques for resident engagement and interactions.

Speaker: Talisha Carter-Moody, LPC, CPCS, MS

This webinar will examine the development of implicit (unconscious) bias and explore the environmental factors that may contribute to stereotyping and stigma. Participants will learn techniques to reduce bias and person-first language approaches to enhance staff and resident interactions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Examine the cognitive process associated with the development of stereotypes, implicit (unconscious) bias, and stigma.
2. Identify external and internal risk factors supporting implicit bias.
3. Learn how bias can negatively impact communication and rapport building with residents.
4. Learn strategies to eliminate implicit bias to enhance resident interactions.

Speaker: Diana Padilla MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

Discover a practical approach to conducting a nursing facility behavioral health needs assessment. Learn to systematically identify the behavioral health demographics and needs of a facility’s resident population and a method for evaluating a facility’s current behavioral health services. Explore the range of behavioral health services and support that can be offered in and out of a facility to increase capacity to meet the behavioral health needs of residents.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize key components of a nursing facility behavioral health needs assessment.
2. Identify key components of behavioral health services available to nursing facilities, within the facility and the community.

Speaker: Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM

The Columbia Protocol, also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), supports suicide risk assessment through a series of simple, plain-language questions that anyone can ask. The answers help users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assess the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauge the level of support that the person needs.

Users of the tool ask people:

• Whether and when they have thought about suicide (ideation)
• What actions they have taken — and when — to prepare for suicide
• Whether and when they attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition.

Speaker: Adam Lesser, LCSW

Participants will gain an understanding of the Stages of Change model in the context of substance use disorders (SUD). Learn effective communication and motivational strategies to support the resident’s journey to recovery.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define and explain the Stages of Change Model.
2. Identify and assess the stages of change in residents with SUD.
3. Discuss how to apply appropriate interventions tailored to each stage of change.
4. Understand the challenges and dynamics associated with each stage.
5. Explain relapse prevention strategies for residents in the maintenance stage.
6. Describe how to foster effective communication and motivation throughout the change process.

Speaker: Rosalyn D. Davis, MSCJ, MATS, CADC-II, ICADC

This half-hour training will introduce staff to a basic understanding of bipolar disorder, its onset, symptoms, and treatments. Participants will leave with an understanding of this mood disorder and will be able to identify its symptoms and approaches to help residents experiencing challenges from bipolar disorder.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will gain an understanding of Bipolar Disorder.
2. Participants will be able to recognize and understand signs and symptoms of Mania and Depression.
3. Participants will learn appropriate responses of engagement with residents.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

With current trends in opioid overdose, residents in skilled nursing facilities may also be at risk. It is important to train staff to recognize opioid overdose and respond quickly to save a life. In this training, attendees will review opioid overdose signs and symptoms. We will help to provide a framework for developing a process to respond to an overdose with naloxone, a lifesaving medication. We will also review processes that can help prevent opioid overdose with education.

Learning Objectives:

1. Become competent in assessing for opioid overdose.
2. Review trends in opioid overdose.
3. Understand how naloxone is administered in an emergency overdose.
4. Review how to establish facility training and overdose prevention within skilled nursing facilities.

Speaker: Dr. Jen Azen, MD, MPH

Nursing facility residents are impacted by historical and intergenerational trauma that goes deep and wide for many racially minoritized groups in the United States. Whether the trauma is recognized openly or tucked deeply into the subconscious, it is often characterized by emotional, physical, and psychological wounds that bleed through generations and across one’s lifespan. In this session, nursing facility staff will gain an awareness to consider the “generations-later” mental health effects of African American slavery, the Jewish Holocaust, the Native American Indian experience, and Latinx immigration trauma that residents may have experienced.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the concepts of historical, race-based, and intergenerational trauma.
2. Consider the intergenerational and historical trauma experiences of Black, Latinx, and Native Americans.
3. Discuss how the biology of trauma can negatively impact trust in caregivers.

Speaker: Dr. LaVerne H. Collins, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

Participants will gain an understanding of the six most prevalent substance use disorders.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define substance use disorders.
2. Discuss the six most prevalent substance use disorders.
3. Describe how to recognize signs of substance use disorders.
4. Discuss steps to take when suspected resident’s active substance use.
5. Explain the importance of screening and assessing for substance use disorders.
6. Discuss how to support residents with substance use disorders.

Speaker: Rosalyn Davis

Diversity-informed practice and trauma-informed care are so intertwined that nursing facilities cannot effectively have one without the other. In this session, we consider the importance of cultural responsiveness–individually and systemically–to those who have experienced trauma.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the significance of bringing diversity-informed practices into trauma-informed care for nursing facilities.
2. Consider structural and systemic inequities as retraumatizing experiences.
3. Discuss how different cultural groups may perceive and respond to trauma.

Speaker: LaVerne H. Collins, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

Are you a nursing facility staff member seeking to enhance your understanding of effectively addressing the behavioral health needs of the African American resident? Join us for an informative training focused on evidence-based strategies designed to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, behavioral health disparities among African American nursing facility residents. By attending the training, you will gain valuable insights into the social-cultural factors affecting behavioral health among African Americans, participate in an engaging discussion regarding challenges in providing optimal behavioral health care, and gain culturally informed strategies to serve the African American population effectively. 

Learning Objectives

1. Define behavioral health equity and why it’s important
2. Understand social-cultural factors affecting behavioral health among African Americans
3. Identify social-ecological barriers to behavioral health care among African Americans
4. Inform their interdisciplinary nursing facility staff about evidence-based strategies to improve behavioral health outcomes for African American residents.

Speaker: Niasha A. Fray MA, MSPH

This interactive virtual training will examine a case scenario to take a deep dive into the importance of person-centered care. It will also offer practical tools to identify and mitigate the impact of implicit bias around mental health and substance use disorders and inform how cultural humility improves the staff and resident connection.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe person-centered care as it relates to nursing facilities and staff practice.
2. Identify how bias induces assumptions that impact communications and rapport building.
3. Identify the benefits of an “individualized” approach to resident engagement.
4. Learn how person-centered strategies can help residents achieve care plan goals.

Speaker: Diana Padilla

Tools for Creating Calm in Times of Distress (Part 6) will provide an opportunity to further enhance your self-awareness in response to distress. Participants will use their personal experiences to further explore empathy, transference, and reactivity, as they practice strategies to de-escalate and prevent distress.

Learning Objectives:

1. Use knowledge related to personality disorders to avoid reactivity and empathy fatigue.
2. Develop strategies for reviewing and preventing incidents of distress with your team using root cause analysis (cause-and-effect diagram) and behavioral analysis.

Speaker: Mathew Roosa

Despite the demands that come with working in a nursing facility, staff are dedicated to their craft and enjoy a deep satisfaction from helping care for residents. The other side of the job brings pressures that can increase susceptibility to exhaustion leading to compassion fatigue and other occupational hazards. This interactive webinar will identify and define often elusive work-related conditions, the emotional and physical toll that can occur over time. Content will include strategies to prevent and cope with compassion fatigue through building resiliency and practicing self-care. Nursing facility staff will learn prevention efforts they can engage in to take care of themselves, both personally and professionally, and consequently residents in care.

Learning Objectives

1. Review work dynamics that affect a nursing facility staff’s ability to take care of themselves.
2. List potential effects that staff’s secondary trauma can have on their residents.
3. List warning signs of the dedicated but stressed-out nursing facility staff.
4. List practical strategies for building resiliency.

Speaker: Diana Padilla

Diversity-informed practice and trauma-informed care are so intertwined that nursing facilities cannot effectively have one without the other. In this session, we consider the importance of cultural responsiveness–individually and systemically–to those who have experienced trauma.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the significance of bringing diversity-informed practices into trauma-informed care for nursing facilities.
2. Consider structural and systemic inequities as retraumatizing experiences.
3. Discuss how different cultural groups may perceive and respond to trauma.

Speaker: LaVerne H. Collins, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC

Tools for Creating Calm in Times of Distress (Part 5) will provide an opportunity to further enhance your self-awareness in response to distress. Participants will use their personal experiences to further explore empathy, transference, and reactivity, as they practice strategies to de-escalate and prevent distress.

Learning Objectives:

1. Practice de-escalation using key tools (grounding, OARS, etc.)
2. Identify “fixing reflexes” and how to contain them.

Speaker: Mathew Roosa

The fundamentals of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and its effects on holiday depression will be discussed. This training is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of depression, seasonal onset, symptoms, and treatments to support residents experiencing challenges from SAD.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain a basic understanding of seasonal depression during the holidays.
2. Participants will be able to recognize and understand signs, symptoms, and triggers of seasonal depression.
3. Participants will learn helpful responses to engage with residents.

Speaker: Bryan Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC

Grief and loss symptoms from resident death are often similar to those experienced from family or friend loss. This webinar session will provide an overview of the bereavement concerns that can arise when nursing home residents and staff experience the death of a resident. Content will review the emotional and psychological responses to loss through the five stages of grief. The discussion will further inform on postvention activities to support self-care and healing for residents and nursing home staff. 

Objectives: 

• List types of grief and symptoms. 
• Define the five stages of grief and potential impacts. 
• List strategies for self-support and healing. 
• Identify ‘postvention’ opportunities to support nursing home staff and residents after a patient death. 

Speaker: Diana Padilla, MCPC, CARC, CASAC-T

There are many people around the world who suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 65% to 90% of nursing home residents have a mental disorder, ranging from common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression to serious mental illnesses (SMI) like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This session will provide an introduction to SMI, an understanding of SMI, and how using a 5-step model for care is effective in assisting staff in supporting residents when a serious mental Illness diagnosis.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define serious mental illness and list the four major categories of SMI.
2. Describe the differences between SMI and dementia and note misperceptions about SMI.
3. Describe the recovery model and list the five steps in the CARES Approach for SMI care.

Speaker: Deborah Richman, BS

This training is designed to equip nursing facility staff with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to provide effective and compassion care to residents diagnosed with an opioid use disorder.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss assessment of residents before starting opioid analgesic treatment for pain.
2. Create evidence-based strategies for practicing opioid stewardship.
3. Evaluate residents for opioid use disorder in nursing facilities.
4. Discuss safe taper of opioids and alternative therapies for pain.

Speakers: Dr. Swati Gaur & Dr. Jenn Azen

Tools for Creating Calm in Times of Distress (Part 4) will provide an opportunity to further enhance your self-awareness in response to distress. Participants will use their personal experiences to further explore empathy, transference, and reactivity, as they practice strategies to de-escalate and prevent distress.

Learning Objectives

1. Use Motivational interviewing (OARS, Engage, Focus, Evoke & Plan) to respond to and resolve distress.
2. Gain familiarity with open-ended questions as a strategy for engagement.

Speaker: Mathew Roosa

This half-hour workshop will introduce staff to schizophrenia and psychosis concepts with the goal of providing participants a basic understanding of thought disorders.

Learning Objectives:

1. Achieve a basic understanding of schizophrenia, its onset, symptoms and treatments
2. Understand that psychosis can be caused from other sources besides schizophrenia
3. Identify the symptoms of psychosis

Speaker: Bryan Stephens

Tools for Creating Calm in Times of Distress (Part 3) will provide an opportunity to further enhance your self-awareness in response to distress. Participants will use their personal experiences to further explore empathy, transference, and reactivity, as they practice strategies to de-escalate and prevent distress.

Learning Objectives:

1. Construct empathy maps for individuals who “push your buttons”.
2. Identify common projection scenarios that result in transference and counter transference.
3. Plan strategies for avoiding unproductive reactions to strong emotions.

Speaker: Mathew Roosa

This interactive virtual training will take a deep dive into the importance of person-centered care through a case scenario. It will also offer practical tools to identify and mitigate the impact of implicit bias around mental health and substance use disorders and inform how cultural humility improves the staff and resident connection.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe person-centered care as it relates to nursing facilities and staff practice.
2. Identify how bias induces assumptions that impact communications and rapport building.
3. Identify the benefits of an ‘individualized’ approach to resident engagement.
4. Learn how person-centered strategies can help residents achieve care plan goals.

Speaker – Diana Padilla MCPC, CARC, CASAC-TASAP

This 2-part training series is designed to provide information, strategies, and engagement tools that can be used to create calm for the distressed resident, while ensuring the delivery of effective care. Participants will improve their self-awareness regarding their own reactions to distress, in addition to discussing risk, safety factors and concrete tools for creating calm.

Learning Objectives:
1. Develop greater empathy and understanding related to distress.
2. Gain insight into personal reactions to distressed residents.
3. Review tools for responding to distress that will improve staff and resident engagement. 4.Identify risk and safety boundaries.

Speaker: Mathew R Roosa, LCSW-R

This half-hour training is a basic introduction to understanding bipolar disorder, its onset, symptoms and treatments. Participants will also learn approaches to support residents experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of bipolar disorder
2. Recognize and understand signs and symptoms of mania and depression
3. Learn appropriate responses of engagement with residents

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, LPC Founder and CEO of TalkForward

Substance use disorders and mental illness overlap at the rate of 50-70%. Compared to individuals with a single diagnosis, those with co-occurring disorders experience more instances of hospitalizations, suicide attempts, actual suicides and relapse. Topics covered in this presentation include the definition of a co-occurring disorder; how substance use disorders and mental illness interact; person-centered recovery; integrated co-occurring disorders treatment; stage-based interventions; and how to support residents with co-occurring disorders.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define co-occurring disorders.
2. Articulate seven (7) ways substance use disorders and mental illness interact with each other for residents with co-occurring disorders.
3. Explain the differences between three (3) types of co-occurring disorders treatment.
4. Be able to provide services and make referrals based upon a resident’s level of readiness to change
5. Provide support for residents with co-occurring disorders.

Speaker: Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC

This 2-part training series is designed to provide information, strategies, and engagement tools that can be used to create calm for the distressed resident, while ensuring the delivery of effective care. Participants will improve their self-awareness regarding their own reactions to distress, in addition to discussing risk, safety factors and concrete tools for creating calm.

Learning Objectives:
1. Develop greater empathy and understanding related to distress.
2. Gain insight into personal reactions to distressed residents.
3. Review tools for responding to distress that will improve staff and resident engagement. 4.Identify risk and safety boundaries.

Speaker: Mathew R Roosa, LCSW-R

This training will provide an overview of opioid use disorders (OUD) in nursing facilities, offer valuable insights, explore medication options, and equip nursing facility staff with an understanding of how to manage this complex issue among residents with a diagnosis of OUD.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn the epidemiology of OUD and why there is an increase of resident admissions with this disorder.
2. Learn how to assess for opioid cravings/withdrawal and how this differs from a pain assessment.
3. Identify medical complications for OUD and conditions most likely seen in post-acute and long-term care settings.
4. Identify concepts in treatment for OUD:

• • Medications: buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone.
  • Behavioral strategies.
  • Mutual support groups

We’ll discuss the grounding techniques a resident can use when emotionally stimulated and experiencing distress. Integrating grounding strategies into care plans will give staff more capacity to uphold trauma-informed principles such as safety, trust, empowerment and collaboration.

Objectives:

1. Define the concept of grounding and why this method of distraction supports a person with an activated nervous system.
2. Name three grounding strategies.
3. Consider collaborating with residents and their families to integrate these strategies into the care plan.

This interactive virtual training will review the importance of person-centered care, offer practical tools to identify and mitigate the impact of implicit bias around mental health, address substance use disorders and misuse, and inform on how cultural humility improves the staff/resident connection.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe person-centered care as it relates to nursing facilities.
2. Identify how bias induces assumptions that impact communications and rapport building.
3. Identify the benefits of an “individualized” approach to resident engagement.
4. Learn how person-centered strategies can help residents achieve care plan goals.

The Columbia Protocol, also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), supports suicide risk assessment through a series of simple, plain-language questions that anyone can ask. The answers help users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assess the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauge the level of support that the person needs.

Users of the tool ask people:

• Whether and when they have thought about suicide (ideation)
• What actions they have taken — and when — to prepare for suicide
• Whether and when they attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition.

In honor of National Recovery Month, attend this live virtual session to gain information on how addiction occurs and learn strategies for meeting the needs of residents with a substance use disorder in a nursing facility. Participants will have an opportunity to hear real-life experiences from a panel of individuals who will share their recovery journey.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the science of addiction.
• Explore the complex needs of nursing home residents with substance use disorders (SUD).
• Learn strategies that nursing facility staff can use in working with residents with a SUD.
• Learn from the stories of individuals with lived experiences in long-term recovery.

In Part 3, we’ll explore the difference between trauma screening and trauma assessment and why this distinction is important in a trauma-informed culture. Participants will learn about direct and indirect screening, when to use each approach and what to do if a resident shares details about a traumatic experience.

Objectives:

1. Differentiate between trauma screening and trauma assessment and why this distinction is crucial.
2. Explain direct and indirect screening techniques and how staff can use indirect screening as part of a trauma-informed culture.
3. Name two things a staff member can do if a resident discloses details of a traumatic experience.

Discover a practical approach to conducting a nursing facility behavioral health needs assessment. Learn to systematically identify the behavioral health demographics and needs of a facility’s resident population and a method for evaluating a facility’s current behavioral health services. Explore the range of behavioral health services and support that can be offered in and out of a facility to increase capacity to meet the behavioral health needs of residents

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize key components of a nursing facility behavioral health needs assessment.
2. Identify key components of behavioral health services available to nursing facilities, within the facility and the community.

This webinar will provide a general overview of substance use disorders with a focus on residents in skilled nursing facilities. It will help care providers to understand the resident’s disease of addiction process and how their disease is treated in a complex and multidisciplinary manner.

Learning Objectives:

1. Be able to differentiate between substance use, substance dependence, and substance use disorder.
2. Learn language that reduces stigma and builds therapeutic alliance with patients with substance use disorder.
3. Understand barriers that residents experience in healthcare, especially in skilled nursing environments. 4. Review neuropathology of addiction. 5. Gain understanding of treatment frameworks for substance use disorder.

This session is an introductory training to help identify, understand, and respond to mental health disorders. It also includes helpful strategies for suicide prevention and de-escalation techniques applicable to nursing homes.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define and discuss common mental health disorders in nursing facilities.
2. Discuss causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of symptoms.
3. Provide awareness of suicide prevention.
4. Identify helpful de-escalation strategies nursing home staff can use to support residents with mental health conditions.  ‌ ‌‌

In this session, we’ll continue our exploration of trauma-informed care concepts—including the six trauma-informed principles, triggers, and how an activated nervous system can impact a person’s behaviors—and how to integrate that knowledge into daily resident interactions.

Objectives:

1. Discuss trauma-informed principles and how a trauma-informed culture supports residents and staff.
2. Explain how triggers impact a person’s behavior.
3. Describe how the nervous system may respond when it perceives a threat and why it’s important for staff to be aware of this during resident interactions.

In Part 2 of this series, we explored what happens when a person’s nervous system is activated, and how they react with a fight-flight-freeze state. In this session, we’ll discuss grounding techniques to support a person when they are emotionally stimulated and experiencing distress. By integrating grounding strategies that work for each resident, staff may also have more capacity to uphold trauma-informed principles including safety, trust, empowerment, and collaboration.

Learning Objectives

1. Define the concept of grounding and why this method of distraction supports a person with an activated nervous system.
2. Name three grounding strategies.
3. Consider collaborating with residents and their families to integrate these strategies into the care plan.

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards provide a blueprint toward improving health equity, patient safety, and patient satisfaction. This presentation is an introduction to CLAS standards and provides ideas for implementation in your organizations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe what CLAS is and why it is important for improving health equity.
2. Classify CLAS standards into operational objectives.
3. Learn your role in implementing CLAS standards in your organization.

This training introduces key components of trauma-informed care that staff can integrate into facility operations and resident interactions.

Objective: Describe key trauma-informed care terms and concepts and how to apply them in nursing homes.

There are many people around the world who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 65% to 90% of nursing home residents have a mental disorder, ranging from common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression to serious mental illnesses (SMI) like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This session will provide an introduction to SMI, an understanding of SMI, and how using a 5-step model for care is effective in assisting staff in supporting residents when a serious mental Illness diagnosis.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define serious mental illness and list the four major categories of SMI.
2. Describe the differences between SMI and dementia and note misperceptions about SMI.
3. Describe the recovery model and list the five steps in the CARES Approach for SMI care.

In Part 3 of this series, we’ll explore the difference between trauma screening and trauma assessment and why this distinction is so important in supporting a trauma-informed culture. Participants will learn about direct and indirect screening and when to use each approach and what to do if a resident shares details about a traumatic experience.

Objectives:
1. Differentiate between trauma screening and trauma assessment and why this distinction is crucial.
2. Explain direct and indirect screening techniques and how staff can always use indirect screening as part of a trauma-informed culture.
3. Name two things a staff member can do if a resident discloses details of a traumatic experience.

This half-hour workshop is to introduce staff to schizophrenia and psychosis with the goal to provide participants with a basic understanding of thought disorders.

Objectives:

• Provide a basic understanding of schizophrenia, its onset, symptoms and treatments.
• Understand that psychosis can be caused from other sources besides schizophrenia
• Identify the symptoms of psychosis

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards provide a blueprint toward improving health equity, patient safety, and patient satisfaction. This presentation is an introduction to CLAS standards and provides ideas for implementation in your organizations.

Objectives:

1. Describe what CLAS is and why it is important for improving health equity.
2. Classify CLAS standards into operational objectives.
3. Learn your role in implementing CLAS standards in your organization.

Discover a practical approach to conducting a nursing facility behavioral health needs assessment. Learn to systematically identify the behavioral health demographics and needs of a facility’s resident population and a method for evaluating a facility’s current behavioral health services. Explore the range of behavioral health services and support that can be offered in and out of a facility to increase capacity to meet the behavioral health needs of residents.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize key components of a nursing facility behavioral health needs assessment.
• Identify key components of behavioral health services available to nursing facilities, within the facility and the community.

A distinct increase in the diagnosis of opioid use disorder has been seen across the country in all medical settings such as skilled nursing facilities and other residential rehabilitation settings. Due to an increase in opioid use disorder, there’s also been an increase in the number of aging patients with pain who have received opioids as prescribed by their physicians, as well as younger populations being admitted to facilities for rehabilitation. With this prevalence, it is imperative to treat opioid use disorder as any other chronic disease would be treated.

This training will be a series of three (3), 30-minute webinars, designed to:
1. Provide an understanding of the disease and the medicines used to treat opioid use disorder.
2. Explore various models, some of which have been utilized for decades, that have been successfully introduced and sustained.
3. Assist in identifying and collaborating with OUD treat providers within your local area.

Healthcare staff have a deep intention to care for other human beings and with the principles of trauma-informed care, we can bring that intention to life. In this session, we’ll continue our exploration of TIC concepts including the difference between trauma screening and assessment, the impact of an activated nervous system, and how to integrate that knowledge into daily interactions with residents.

1. Discuss trauma-informed principles and how they apply to resident interactions.
2. Explain the impact of a nervous system response and the difference between a reaction and a response.
3. Differentiate between trauma screening and trauma assessment and why this distinction is critical.

The Columbia Protocol, also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), supports suicide risk assessment through a series of simple, plain-language questions that anyone can ask. The answers help users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assess the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauge the level of support that the person needs.

Users of the tool ask people:
1. Whether and when they have thought about suicide (ideation)
2. What actions they have taken — and when — to prepare for suicide
3. Whether and when they attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition

Substance use disorders and mental illness overlap at the rate of 50% to 70%. Compared to individuals with a single diagnosis, those with co-occurring disorders experience more hospitalizations, suicide attempts, actual suicides, and relapse. Topics covered in this presentation will include:

• Definition of a co-occurring disorder
• How substance use disorders and mental illness interact
• Person centered recovery
• Integrated co-occurring disorders treatment
• Stage based interventions
• How to support residents with co-occurring disorders

Learning Objectives:

• Define co-occurring disorders
• Articulate seven ways substance use disorders and mental illness interact with each other for residents with co-occurring disorders
• Explain the differences between three types of co-occurring disorders treatment
• Be able to provide services and make referrals based upon a resident’s level of readiness to change
• Provide support for residents with co-occurring disorders

If you attempted to register for the “Addressing Co-occurring Disorders in Nursing Facilities” session on May 24th and it was full. We have now increased capacity for that session as well. Please feel free to register.

This is an introduction to key components that support staff can use to integrate trauma informed approach in facility operations and all resident interactions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe key trauma-informed care terms and concepts and how they apply in the nursing home setting.
2. Explain the impact of a nervous system response and how to incorporate a trauma-informed approach for resident expressions of distress.
3. Differentiate between trauma screening and trauma assessment and why this distinction is critical.
4. Operationalize CMS federal guidelines trauma-informed care in nursing facilities.
5. Articulate strategies to apply trauma-informed care principles in daily care and facility operations.

Join this webinar to discover how to define substance use, misuse and substance use disorders. Review substance use screening tools that can be used in nursing facilities and the importance of using stigma-free language. How to recognize the signs and symptoms of possible substance use will also be discussed.

Mental Health 101 is an introductory training to help identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health disorders. Join us as we address some of the common causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of mental health symptoms among nursing home residents, and share common warning signs and practical strategies on how staff can support improving resident mental wellness. This training will also assist nursing facility staff develop skills to more effectively help residents with mental health disorders.