WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
WHERE: JW Marriott, Downtown Indianapolis
Creating Lives Worth Living: Person-Centered Care, Meaningful Engagement, and Caregiver Empowerment
Creating exceptional quality of life for residents requires far more than meeting physical care needs—it requires understanding the person behind the diagnosis, honoring individual choices, fostering meaningful relationships, and supporting the well-being of the caregivers who make it all possible. This dynamic and highly interactive educational program explores the essential elements of truly person-centered care in long-term care and assisted living settings. Participants will learn practical strategies for uncovering residents’ life stories, developing individualized approaches to care and activity programming, enhancing communication and engagement for individuals living with dementia, strengthening community connections, and empowering residents through meaningful choice and autonomy. Throughout the day, attendees will discover innovative techniques for creating purpose-driven experiences that enrich emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being. Sessions will also address one of the most critical factors in successful resident care—the health and resilience of caregivers themselves. Participants will gain practical tools to recognize and manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain personal well-being while continuing to provide exceptional care. Filled with real-world examples, interactive exercises, group discussions, and actionable takeaways, this program will inspire professionals at all levels to move beyond task-focused care and create environments where residents feel valued, connected, empowered, and truly at home. Participants will leave with fresh ideas, renewed motivation, and practical strategies they can immediately implement to improve resident outcomes, strengthen team culture, and enhance quality of life throughout their organization.
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Apply person-centered care principles to better understand resident preferences, life histories, strengths, and individual needs in order to enhance quality of life and meaningful engagement.
- Implement effective communication, engagement, and support strategies for residents living with dementia and other cognitive challenges to promote participation, connection, and well-being.
- Develop approaches that foster resident choice, autonomy, community involvement, and purposeful living through individualized programming and meaningful relationships.
- Identify sources of caregiver stress and utilize practical resilience-building techniques to support personal well-being, prevent burnout, and maintain high-quality care.
Who Should Attend: Social services, activities, nurses, and therapists
Agenda: 8:30am-5:00pm EST (Registration/breakfast starts at 8:00am, lunch provided)
Plan on joining us from 5-6pm for a fun carnival-themed reception with complimentary appetizers and drinks!
Trainer: Educator. Motivator. Communicator. Consultant. Author…Catherine R. “Cat” Selman, BS, uses her dynamic personality and compelling presence to spread the message of positive, realistic, and common-sense strategies for the aging services professional. She presently serves as President and Co-owner of The Cat Selman Company, a company specializing in continuing education for healthcare professionals. Ms. Selman received her degree from Trevecca Nazarene University, with continued graduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi. She was a Corporate Management Consultant for 101 nursing homes in 7 states. With over 35 years’ experience in management, education and consultation, Ms. Selman has trained providers and surveyors in all 50 states. Since 1989, she has often been requested by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to sit on stakeholder/ expert panels responsible for the revision of surveyor guidance and compliance issues. In fact, Ms. Selman participated in a CMS Expert Panel Group responsible for some of the Surveyor Guidance that is now included in the current CMS RoP. She continues to train State Agencies & Surveyors in Care Planning, as well as other requirements regarding process, documentation, and compliance. In demand, and on topic, she is considered an authority in aging services.
Schedule:
8:00am-8:30am : Social Services/Activities Bootcamp check-in – Room: White River CD
8:30am-12:15pm : Social Services/Activities Bootcamp – Room: White River CD
12:30pm-2:00pm : Keynote Luncheon / Senior Living Awards celebration – Room: White River EF ballroom
2:00pm-5:00pm : Social Services/Activities Bootcamp – Room: White River CD
5-6pm (optional) : Plan on joining us for a fun carnival-themed reception with complimentary appetizers and drinks! – Room: White River foyer
CEUs: 7 CEUs for IN Administrators, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Activities professionals through NCCAP. A statement of NCCAP approval does not certify an individual. If an individual requests certification, they will follow the process through the respective organization and/or agency.
Cost: $250
*This bootcamp is for IHCA/INCAL members only.