Genernal Sessions and Featured Speakers

SUNDAY, January 27, 2008
6 to 7:30 pm

Opening General Session

Opening Remarks and Welcome: Val J. Halamandaris, President, NAHC; Mark Heaney, Chair, Private Duty Home Care Association

Shirley McElroy Franchise Development Manager Synergy HomeCare

Featured Speaker: Shirley McElroy is the Franchisee Development Manager for Synergy HomeCare, a national home care franchise headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona. Prior to joining Synergy HomeCare in January 2007, she consulted with another home care franchise and a start up home care operation in Dallas, Texas. From 1998 to 2005, McElroy enjoyed much success owning and operating a large Private Duty Home Care Agency in Houston, Texas. She established exemplary customer service standards and implemented a strong marketing program in her company.

McElroy understands the concept of “you can’t manage what you don’t know” and used state of the art technology to enable her to manage and strategically position her company as Houston’s leader in the Private Duty Home Care market.

Her biggest task in 1998 was to educate the community about private duty services. Despite the more recent proliferation of competition in the Houston area, McElroy grew the company revenue from $2 million to more than $7 million during the eight year period.

She is a native Houstonian and received her BBA/Finance from the University of Houston. Much of McElroy’s career was spent in accounting and finance. She managed accounting departments and implemented a technologically advanced cash management system for a hospital company with locations across the country.

Her passion, however, is people. McElroy recognized that about the only real assets of a home care company are the people. She established a remarkable roster of 300 plus Home Health Aides and CNA’s by focusing on recruitment of the absolute best caregivers. Being constantly challenged by retention issues, she established awards programs, an employee newsletter, educational meetings and opportunities for all field staff. She feels that caregivers should always be treated with the honor and respect they so greatly deserve.

McElroy believes the key to success in home care is establishing great relationships within the organization, in the community and in the industry. She is a member of the Private Duty Homecare Association and the Texas Association for Home Care.

Program Description
Success in the world of a private duty/private pay business requires commitment to excellence and quality in every aspect of operations. Especially critical are recruitment and retention issues, which are ongoing challenges with the tension of “supply” and “demand” in this near full employment economy. Finding, recruiting and hiring the very best caregivers is a worthwhile investment in time, money and energy. Successful private duty/private pay agencies are willing to make this investment because they know this is one of the most important keys to a profitable business.

The competition for the workforce pool today is phenomenal. Plus, the best employee for a home bound client must have the personality of caring that matches the job. Pressure to build a business can be ridden with temptation to cut corners or abbreviate the hiring process. Skipping steps or cutting these corners only results in the “revolving door” of your workforce, and does not help in continuity of care for the frail client, which is a cornerstone for pleasing most clients.

Long-lasting private duty agencies develop solid hiring practices and subsequent retention strategies. They know that caregivers prefer an employer who has a good reputation for the quality of its workforce, provides services that result in excellent client satisfaction, and makes the caregiver an integral part of the care team.

Wouldn’t you like for YOUR workforce to say “The screening and hiring process took a little time, but the agency provided great orientation and training for the job I do. I am proud to work for this top notch agency.”

This compelling program will showcase three locally employed caregivers from three different agencies who will share their recruitment experiences and what contributes to the mutual respect held by worker and employer. Celebrate the powerful role that caregivers play in the private duty/private pay business model in this informative and highly personal session where we will listen and learn from those who are on the front line every day providing the care and companionship that makes their clients’ lives better while helping them maintain independence and dignity in the comfort of their own home.

Objectives:

• Discuss the rewards of planned, systematic and thorough recruitment;
• Describe and showcase the importance of solid hiring practices as a necessity in the world of private duty business; and
• Relate ways to build and nurture mutual respect between caregivers and private duty employers.

Course level: Basic 1.0 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

MONDAY, January 28, 2008
8:30 to 10 am

General Session

Alison Levine Leader of the First American Womenís Everest Expedition and Founder of the Climb High Foundation

Alison Levine is no stranger to risk-taking. She has survived sub-zero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, sudden avalanches and a career on Wall Street – all without the use of supplemental oxygen.

Surprisingly, Levine was born with a life-threatening heart condition that precluded most demanding physical activities. As a teenager, her health was so unstable that she was not even allowed to do such basic things as drive a car or walk up stairs. But 13 years after her initial diagnosis she had surgery that changed her life - and climbing stairs soon gave way to climbing mountains, a passion that Levine continued to pursue despite her initial health setbacks.

In between starting business school and starting a job on Wall Street, Levine “accidentally” scaled the seven summits. Over the next several years as she continued to climb the corporate ladder, Levine also pushed her limits on the world’s highest peaks and soon became one of the most experienced female mountaineers in the country.

In 2002, Levine was recognized for her track record of leadership and success in the mountains when she was invited to serve as the team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, a history-making climb that would put her heart and her spirit to the test. An avid explorer and adventurer, Levine also traveled across the Arctic Circle on skis for more than 100 miles to successfully reach the top of the world – the geographic North Pole. Her success in extreme environments is noteworthy given Levine suffers from Raynaud’s Disease which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse in cold weather, leaving her at extreme risk for frost bite.

Levine’s expeditions have been documented by more than 450 media outlets. She has made numerous appearances on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, Fox, ABC News, CBS’ Evening News, and other national programs. Her story has been the subject of articles in Oprah Magazine, National Geographic, Lifetime Magazine, Sports Illustrated Woman, Outside and other publications. Levine has earned many honors for her achievements and her ability to overcome adversity, including the Courage in Sports Award from the Anaheim Angels. She was named one of San Francisco’s Top Business Leaders Under 40 and was listed as one of Arizona’s (her native state) Most Interesting People. She has also been featured prominently in the book More Than 85 Broads, the book that captures the efforts of the women of Wall Street to find success and take risks on their own terms.

Her 18-year business career encompasses healthcare, technology and finance. After earning her MBA from Duke University she moved to New York to work for one of the top investment banks on Wall Street. In 2003, Levine left Wall Street to serve as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become Governor of California.

Levine is the founder and President of Daredevil Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in organizational effectiveness, leadership development and team dynamics. Drawing parallels between staying alive in the mountains and thriving in a fast-paced business world, Levine focuses on the topics of leadership, teamwork, overcoming odds, tackling fear, taking responsible risks and dealing with changing environments.

TUESDAY, January 29, 2008
8:30 to 10 pm

General Session

The Elephant in the Living Room: Create a Security Program to Protect Your Clients’ Belongings

William A. Alford International Lighthouse Group, Inc.

Alford is the Loss Prevention Consultant to the Food Marketing Institute, a trade organization representing 1,500 member companies — food retailers and wholesalers — in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores with a combined annual sales volume of $680 billion — three-quarters of all retail food store sales in the United States.

He is past Chairperson and current member of the National Retail Loss Prevention Council for ASIS International the largest organization for security professionals, with more than 35,000 members worldwide and Alford is also a Contributing Editor for Loss Prevention Magazine, the premier trade publication dedicated to the professional development of loss prevention executives.

With more than 25 years experience directing loss prevention programs for business and industry, Alford has written numerous security and management-related articles for professional trade publications. He is also an accomplished speaker and has appeared before many trade groups and companies across the country. His presentations are delivered in an entertaining manner and focus on practical programs and ideas that can be put into place immediately by his audience.

Program Description
Because we as an industry don’t like to admit that theft does occur in the world of home care, a potentially dangerous formula exists that is rarely addressed directly, but that needs a proactive approach and solution. Issues and circumstances can combine that make a client’s belongings the object of theft by a home care worker. Consider the facts. Many clients who choose to purchase companion or live-in services are affluent. Home care workers do not receive direct supervision (as in a facility) and can often be from lower economic backgrounds. When placed in homes where affluent, frail elderly people reside, the issues of the “haves” and “have nots” can converge. The home care agency is responsible not only for the client’s protection, but also for protecting the client’s personal belongings.

Bill Alford is an international consultant on security issues related to theft and business loss. He is well versed in the home care industry and the specific threats and issues that are present, but rarely discussed. Alford has identified seven prevention strategies that can be applied by agencies to secure a customer’s money and valuables in the home.

Real life examples of disturbing events include everything from missing jewelry to credit cards. Actual case studies will demonstrate to the attendees how to set up private duty offices, instruct caregivers, and communicate with customers prior to starting service in a reassuring manner that provides the guidance needed to protect their belongings and financial matters in the home prior to care staffing.

Respect for employees is an important part of the equation, but theft and dishonesty is always a potential threat.

Because of his extensive experience in creating a safe environment and understanding theft, Alford knows the issues related to theft and the make-up of someone who steals. He also discusses the initial precautions to take and the procedure to follow when there is a suspicion of theft or dishonesty. Following this process will create a better working environment for honest employees and a safety net for all clients.

Theft issues in the industry are possibly more commonplace than reported. As agencies grow and add more staff and clients, incidents increase proportionately. This invaluable learning session will arm the agency owner/executive, staffing coordinators and supervisors with valuable information to create a system of screening for dishonesty and theft and appropriately handling situations if someone does slip through into the employment ranks.

Objectives:

• Discuss the role of the home care agency in protecting the client and the client’s personal belongings;
• Relate proactive strategies to address the issue of theft and dishonesty before it happens; and
• Explain how to appropriately handle situations when theft or dishonestly occurs.

Faculty: William A. Alford, President,. Charlotte, N.C.

Course level: Intermediate; Nursing CEs 1.5; CPEs 1.0 (NASBA/PHR).

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