Mather LifeWays at the Life Services Network Annual Convention

By Richard Shank

Visit Mather LifeWays at the Annual Convention and Exhibition of the Life Services Network of Illinois. The conference is Wednesday–Friday, March 25–27 at Chicago's Navy Pier, and will feature over 150 educational sessions, nationally acclaimed faculty, unmatched networking events, and the biggest exhibit hall ever!

Stop by the Mather LifeWays booth (#810) to see the latest services and program offerings, and enter a drawing for a raffle prize. Exhibit hours are Wednesday, March 25 from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and Thursday, March 26 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Greg Walsh at (847) 492.7433 or gwalsh@matherlifeways.com.

Mather LifeWays also has a variety of speakers presenting information on various topics at the convention, including:

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Food is Indeed Modern Day Art
2:00–3:30 p.m.

Define the term "we eat with our eyes." Learn techniques for attractively garnishing plates with very little cost by concentrating on using the food items themselves. Get new ideas on how to successfully pair menu items together to present a colorful display that is sure to receive many compliments when placed in front of customers. Showcase menu pairing ideas that boost the look of the plate but help meet the budgetary needs of our times.
Presenters:
Cara Baldwin, Assistant Vice President of Dining, Mather LifeWays
Al Dileso, Executive Chef, Splendido

The Sky's the Limit with Age Well Coaching!
2:00–3:30 p.m.

Identify the principles and theories that create the foundation of life coaching and the many potential benefits it can offer to older adults. Recognize what is required to develop, promote, implement, and evaluate a similar life coaching program. Discuss the results and implications of life coaching for older adults in individual and group-based sessions, as well as community-based and senior living settings.
Presenters:
Reed J. Engel, MA, FAWHP, Director, Wellness Strategies, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging
Randi Klebanoff, MS, MPH, CHES,Manager, Wellness Initiatives, Mather LifeWays
Sharon Smith, BS, Fitness Coordinator, Mather’s—More Than a Café

The Nine Ingredients of Sales and Marketing Success—Cooking up Occupancy!
3:45–5:15 p.m.

Look at basic business ingredients in an entirely new way and leave with creative approaches to combine items already at your fingertips for new outcomes. Write a recipe to take back to your organization with the one secret ingredient that you need to have and/or acquire for long-term sales and marketing success. Get ideas and resources on how to acquire and mix necessary ingredients if your organization's pantry does not already contain them.
Presenters:
Gale Morgan, Vice President Sales, Mather LifeWays
Sara McVey, Vice President Marketing, Mather LifeWays

Is Your Organization Ready for an Aging Workforce?
3:45–5:15 p.m.

Learn the importance of assessing attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and needs of the aging services workforce in the areas of job satisfaction, intergenerational communications, retirement planning, and personal caregiving. Understand how to assess your own organizational culture by identifying shared characteristics and creating a dialogue about how to address these issues. Handouts will be provided allowing you to gain insight and resources on how to more successfully create a harmonious, effective workplace.
Presenters:
Dawn Lehman, PhD, Director, Workforce Strategies, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging
Richard Shank, MA, Sr. Research Associate, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging
Scott King, MA, ABD, Sr. Research Associate, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging

Friday, March 27, 2009

Selling to Tomorrow's Consumers, Today
8:30–10:30 a.m.

Understand how to attract the consumer of today while preparing for the consumer of tomorrow. Identify the different dimensions of wellness and the potential benefits this philosophical approach offers to staff and older adult customers. Take away tips and strategies you can use to begin transforming your own community.
Presenters:

Reed J. Engel, MA, FAWHP, Director of Wellness Strategies, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging

Jerry Walleck, AIA, Associate Principal, Perkins Eastman
M. Kathleen Eilers, President, Perkins Eastman
Jim Remley, Marketing Consultant, Spectrum

More Than a Home Visit
10:15–11:15 a.m.

Support home health aides in optimizing interactions during home visits. Provide additional meaning for day-to-day employment, while concurrently enhancing client services. Bolster your home health aides' toolkit to provide clients with extraordinary experiences.
Presenters:
Kate Paz, Director, Programs Without Walls
Karen Kolb, Manager, Community Engagement, Mather LifeWays

For more information on the conference, please visit the Life Services Network website: www.lsni.org.

Comments? Tell us what you think: askaia@matherlifeways.com

Mather LifeWays at the Life Services Network Annual Convention

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Food is Indeed Modern Day Art 2:00–3:30 p.m.

The Sky's the Limit with Age Well Coaching! 2:00–3:30 p.m.

The Nine Ingredients of Sales and Marketing Success—Cooking up Occupancy! 3:45–5:15 p.m.

Is Your Organization Ready for an Aging Workforce? 3:45–5:15 p.m.