Event Registration

Life Enrichment Workshop – Practical Strategies for Activity Professionals

Program Description

Join IHCA’s vast network of activity professionals for a full-day workshop designed specifically for activity and life enrichment professionals working in long-term care. This interactive program will provide practical strategies to help you strengthen your activity program, better engage residents of all abilities and improve your effectiveness as a department leader.

Sessions will explore how to involve all staff in creating meaningful resident experiences, innovative ways to connect with frail and hard-to-reach residents, step-by-step guidance for building a successful volunteer program and time management and leadership strategies to help you stay organized and productive.

Whether you are new to the profession or a seasoned activity director, this workshop will provide realistic ideas, fresh inspiration and tools you can apply immediately to enhance quality of life for the residents you serve.

Location

BCG Education Center
Iowa Health Care Association
1775 90^th St.
West Des Moines, IA

Schedule

July 14, 2026
9.00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.                    Registration/Check-In
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.                  Time Management and Leadership Tips for Activity Professionals
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m          There is Always a Way – Ways to Connect with ALL Residents
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.                   Lunch (provided)
12:45 – 2:15 p.m.                    Creating a Winning Volunteer Program
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.                    All Hands on Deck – Involving All Staff in Activities

Session Descriptions

Time Management and Leadership Tips for Activity Professionals

Balancing calendars, documentation, care planning, staff supervision and resident needs can make the role of a life enrichment professional both rewarding and demanding. This session will offer practical time management and leadership strategies to help attendees organize their responsibilities more effectively. Topics will include daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly planning concepts, prioritization techniques, and ways to stay ahead of deadlines and regulatory requirements. Participants will leave with tools and strategies to increase productivity, reduce stress and lead their departments with greater confidence.

There is Always a Way – Ways to Connect with ALL Residents

Some residents may be too frail, medically complex or cognitively impaired to participate in traditional group activities, but meaningful engagement is still possible. This session will focus on creative approaches for reaching residents who are often overlooked, including those who are bedbound, nonverbal or living with advanced dementia. Participants will explore sensory-based programming, environmental interventions and individualized engagement techniques that go beyond the standard one-to-one visit. Attendees will gain practical ideas to help ensure every resident has opportunities for connection, purpose and joy.

Creating a Winning Volunteer Program

A strong volunteer program can expand your department’s reach while bringing fresh energy and meaningful relationships into your care community. This session will provide a step-by-step guide to building and maintaining a successful volunteer program, from recruitment and screening to orientation, training and recognition. Participants will learn strategies for identifying volunteer roles that align with organizational needs and volunteer interests. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to strengthen an existing program, this session will provide tools to help you develop a sustainable and impactful volunteer program.

All Hands on Deck – Involving All Staff in Activities

Creating a vibrant activity program is not the responsibility of the life enrichment department alone. This session will explore practical and realistic ways to engage every member of the care team—from nursing and dietary to housekeeping, maintenance and administration—in enhancing residents’ daily lives. Attendees will learn simple strategies staff can incorporate into their normal routines to create more meaningful interactions and opportunities for engagement. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to help build a culture where everyone plays a role in supporting resident quality of life.

Continuing Education Credit

This program is approved for 6.0 contact hours for:

• Activity professionals
• NF administrators

Registration Fees

Members:     $150 per person
Non-members:        $450 per person

Speaker

Rachelle Blough has worked in various community, regional, corporate and national level positions in senior living including assisted living, skilled nursing, supportive living and adult day care over the last 30 years. Holding roles in activities, memory care, sales and operations, she has gained experiences that have allowed her to provide practical ideas that can be implemented quickly and easily, making a difference in the lives of both seniors and health care professionals. She is also Vice President of Corporate Training with the National Council for Certified Dementia Practitioners.