Events Calendar

LTC Dietary Conference

Join us for an enriching gathering focused on the latest trends and best practices in LTC dietary department management.  This conference is designed to empower dietary professionals with valuable insights and tools to optimize resident health and well-being.

Location

Iowa Health Care Association
1775 90th St.
West Des Moines, IA

Schedule

June 20, 2024

  8:30 a.m.    Registration/Check-In
  9:00 a.m.    Managing Costs and Food Waste in LTC Kitchens
 10:15 a.m.    Break
10:30 a.m.    Nourishing Wellness for the Dietary Professional
 11:45 a.m.    Lunch/Vendor Food Fair
 12:15 p.m.    Combating CMS F-Bombs in the Dietary Department
   1:30 p.m.    Break  
   1:45 p.m.    Enhancing LTC Dining: Chef Demonstrations & Culinary Innovation
  3:00 p.m.    Adjourn

Topic Descriptions

Managing Costs and Food Waste in LTC Kitchens 
Speaker: Cassie Whitmore
  Although managing costs has always been important in our facilities, the challenges of the past few years have made this an even more important consideration. This enlightening session will review how you can utilize regulations, standards of practice, and the tools available to provide safe and high-quality food while managing costs more effectively.  There will also be a discussion on ways to reduce food waste, whether it’s from our residents’ plates or the walk-ins. 

Nourishing Wellness for the Dietary Professional
Speaker: Cassie Whitmore
  Enhance your well-being while mastering the art of balance in life with this session tailored for dietary professionals. Discover strategies to nurture physical health, cultivate mental resilience, and strike harmony between personal and professional domains. Explore practical approaches to manage stress, prioritize self-care, and foster holistic wellness, empowering you to thrive both personally and in your professional journey.

Combating CMS F-Bombs in the Dietary Department 
Speakers: Julie Halfpop and Brenda Irlbeck
    Are you ready for your next annual survey in the dietary department? This presentation will provide a thorough review of the current CMS survey protocols and will provide a review of what surveyors are currently focusing on in food and nutrition services during survey. The session will conclude with a review of best practices for survey preparedness and tools you can use to combat survey tags.

Enhancing LTC Dining: Chef Demonstrations & Culinary Innovation
  Experience the intersection of culinary artistry and healthcare innovation with our Chef Demonstrations & Culinary Innovation session.  Our passionate chefs will showcase creative recipes tailored to meet the unique dietary needs of residents, while introducing innovative cooking techniques and ingredients. These engaging demonstrations will not only elevate the dining experience for residents but will also empower staff with new skills and ideas to enhance nutritional quality and satisfaction in LTC environments.

Continuing Education Credit

This workshop is approved for 5.00 contact hours for: 

• Dietary
• N.F. Administrators
• Assisted Living Managers

Registration Fees

Members: $140 per person
Non-Members: $420 per person

Speaker Bios

Julie Halfpop, RD, LDN, Director of Nutrition Services is the leader of our Martin Bros.’ team of 9 dietitians. Passionate about the senior living industry, Julie has devoted over 30 years to inspiring excellence in dining. Having managed food & nutrition departments, she challenges her team daily to develop and administer tools and services that will promote successful management of the industry’s opportunities & challenges. Her favorite topics of conversation revolve around long term care menus, developing marketable dining experiences, controlling costs, and training staff.

Brenda Irlbeck is the Vice President, Quality Improvement & Regulatory Affairs for the Iowa Health Care Association, the Iowa Center for Assisted Living, and the Iowa Center for Home Care.   Brenda works closely with the IHCA and ICAL Quality Improvement Committees and the IHCA Medicare Committee.  She is knowledgeable regarding issues related to quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and clinical practice in post-acute care settings.  Brenda is a registered nurse, certified assisted living manager, and a former director of nursing.

Cassandra “Cassie” Whitmore, RD, LMNT has been a dietitian for more than 10 years. She has spent most of her career working in Long Term Care at various facilities throughout the state of Nebraska with notable experience in Hospice and Mental Healthcare. She also spent time as an Employee Wellness Dietitian and has worked as an outpatient dietitian focusing on Diabetes Self-Management and Eating Disorders. She is currently self-employed as a Consultant Dietitian and speaker.

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