Webinar Archive
As a national leader in health management, SeniorBridge is passionate about making educational resources available to families and professionals. Please enjoy the below archive of our web seminar recordings and speaker presentations from past events.
Empowering Families to Secure Their Future with Advance Care Planning
Recorded on National Advance Directives Day: April 16, 2012
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To access the Five Wishes online, click here.
Session Description
In the spirit of National Healthcare Decisions Day, this dynamic session offers strategies to honor patients' autonomy and give them the opportunity to reflect upon and tell us how they wish to be cared for if they lose their ability to consider or communicate their views. Expert advice combined with an inspiring family case study provides perspective as well as practical tips to implement successful advance care planning strategies.
Expert Speakers
Paul Malley, President of Aging with Dignity, a national non-profit organization with a mission to affirm and safeguard the human dignity of individuals as they age and to promote better end-of-life care, introduces Five Wishes, America’s favorite living will.
Rona S. Bartelstone, LCSW, MSW, CMC, Senior Vice President of Care Management at SeniorBridge and co-founder of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers discusses how professionals can support families in ethical healthcare decision making.
Laura Marshall, Regional Director of Professional Relations at SeniorBridge, offers her perspective as a daughter who, along with family members, moved her mother to document her wishes then overcame obstacles to implement them.
A Warrior's Final Battle: Meeting the Unique Needs of Veterans as They Age
Recorded March 7, 2012
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Session Description
Many military experiences impact peaceful dying for veterans – even though their death might occur decades later. The stoic military culture, combat training, and war itself can change a veteran in fundamental ways. Emotional, spiritual, social, and moral injuries they have sustained impact them throughout their lifetime, especially as they face death. This presentation will sensitize healthcare professionals to the unique needs veterans face as they age and at the end of their lives and offer guidance on navigating care through partnerships in the community.
Expert Speakers
Deborah Grassman is a nurse practitioner with more than 25 years experience at the Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center, author of Peace at Last: Stories of Hope and Healing for Veterans and Their Families and a long-time partner of the SeniorBridge family.
Laura Marshall is SeniorBridge's regional director of professional relations in the Broward, Dade, West Palm Beach and Jupiter regions who works with families to understand their unique needs and preferences then collaboarates with SeniorBridge care managers who develop and implement appropriate care plans.
Treating Late Life Depression with Integrative Interventions
Recorded February 23, 2012
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Download the handout: Presentation Slides
Session Description
Depression is a major cause of disability in late life. It is often recurring and can co-exist with other illnesses. An important consideration in the diagnosis and management of late life depression is whether there is coexisting cognitive impairment, and if so, is the cognitive impairment caused by the depression or due to a coexisting dementia? This presentation will focus on how to make this distinction in clinical practice, the importance of making this distinction, and how the treatment approaches for the two situations can differ.
Expert Speakers
Burton Reifler, MD, MPH will discuss recent research on the matter and offer guidelines for assessments and interventions. Dr. Reifler is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He has served as Director of "Partners in Caregiving" and is a past president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a past Chairperson of the APA's Council on Aging and is also a SeniorBridge Professional Advisory Board Member.
Claudia Fine, LCSW, MPH will share experiences working with seniors and depression. Ms. Fine is Executive Vice President of SeniorBridge and has worked in the field of eldercare for over 20 years. She is the former President of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, and a current member of the New York Society for Clinical Social Work Psychotherapists and the American Society on Aging.
Disaster Preparedness: Protecting Seniors in a Crisis
Recorded February 8, 2012
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Session Description
Disasters disproportionately affect frail older adults. Impaired physical mobility, diminished sensory awareness, chronic health conditions, and dementia can interfere with their ability to respond and adapt to emergencies. Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters This presentation will help families and health professionals anticipate and cope with challenges these seniors face during a power outages, natural disasters and other emergencies.
Expert Speakers
Barbara Paris, MD, FACP is Director of the Division of Geriatrics and Vice Chair, Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center and Clinical Professor of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine and Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She is also a SeniorBridge Professional Advisory Board Member.
Rona S. Bartelstone, LCSW, MSW, CMC, is Senior Vice President of Care Management at SeniorBridge. She is also a founder and Past President of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.
Jewish Customs and Culture: Understanding and Addressing Cultural Barriers to Care
Recorded January 11, 2012
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Session Description
Meeting the physical, social, mental and spiritual needs of members of the Jewish senior community requires an understanding of practices, observances and traditions that relate to their life at home. This presentation will explain customs surrounding major Jewish holidays and the Sabbath as well as spiritual traditions surrounding caregiving, end of life and mourning in an effort to provide professionals with a foundation for delivering culturally appropriate care.
Expert Speakers
Beth Wolff, of Jewish Family Services in Naples, FL, provides an overview of Jewish traditions applicable to healthcare professionals.
Rona Bartelstone, LCSW, BCD, CMC, C-ASWCM, Senior Vice President of Care Management at SeniorBridge, discusses how care plans can be implemented to accommodate cultural preferences.
Empowering Caregivers of Dementia Patients
Recorded November 8, 2011
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Session Description: Adults age 85+ are the fastest growing segment of our population - and half of them have Alzheimer's. This seminar will help professionals and families struggling to make decisions for those without capacity develop a pathway, framework and tools for making thoughtful, ethical decisions. These tools are designed to be tailored to individual levels of incapacity and situations and to give voice to those who can't speak for themselves. Respect and compassion are the core values of this decision making process.
Viki Kind, M.A. is a clinical bioethicist, medical educator and hospice volunteer. Her book, “The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices For Those Who Can't,” guides families and professionals through the difficult process of making decisions for those who have lost capacity. She has lectured across the United States teaching healthcare professionals to have integrity, compassion and to improve end-of-life care through better communication.
Important Issues and Documents to Address Before, During and After Retirement
Recorded October 13, 2011
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Session Description: Listen to a dynamic panel discussion about early preparations for improving physical and financial health as we age.
Richard Levine, MD of Priority Concierge has more than 20 years experience providing treatment and preventive care to South Florida patients with an emphasis on establishing effective communication. He will discuss how to prepare yourself physically, mentally and holistically as you age.
Arnold Cohen, Esq. is a recently-retired attorney who practiced law for over 50 years, will discuss Living Wills and other similar documents which every person should consider as they plan for end-of-life contingencies.
Paul Vattiato, Co-Founder and a Principal of Intracoastal Family Office at Capital Guardian LLC, will discuss wealth governance, legacy, caregiving and philanthropy.
Paying for Long-Term Care
Recorded September 20, 2011
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Session Description: Financing long-term care planning is one of the most significant preparations families and individuals face when building a foundation for security, stability and quality of life. Our speakers will discuss resources to help seniors and their caregivers identify care options and pay for the care that meets their preferences and needs. Topics will include Medicare, Long-Term Care Insurance, Life Insurance, Reverse Mortgages, Congregate Care Options and Medicaid - the payor of last resort. Attendees will gain understanding of how to access relevant resources, particularly when faced with the reality that Medicare rarely covers costs involved after a hospital or sub-acute facility stay.
Eileen Zenker, LCSW, Director of Client Services in New York, New York for SeniorBridge, has worked in the field of social work for more than 23 years including serving as Director of the Department of Social Work at NYU Langone Medical Center. Among her credentials, she has an extensive background in bio-ethics and discharge planning.
Susan E. Ganz, MBA, Financial Services Professional, brings over 19 years experience in strategic and financial analysis, positioning businesses and professionals for success. Her career history includes high management positions with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC., Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young and JP Morgan Chase.
Vivian Gallo, CLU, CSA, AEP, CLTC specializes in long-term care planning and claims consulting. She has more than 30 years experience helping people understand their long-term care policies and filing claims for benefits.
Working with Patients with Personality Disorders
Recorded August 24, 2011
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Session Description: Patients with personality disorders are common in primary care settings and caring for them can be difficult and frustrating. The characteristics of these patients' personalities tend to elicit strong feelings in social workers, nurses, physicians and discharge planners and can lead to the development of problematic patient relationships thus complicating diagnosis, compliance and treatment outcomes. Knowledge of the core characteristics of psychiatric disorders allows health care workers to recognize, diagnose and work with these patients. Our goal is to develop a working relationship with patients to help them receive the best possible care despite their chronic difficulties in interacting with workers in the health care system. Strategies discussed will include the use of specific communication styles, the establishment of clear boundaries, limit setting on the patients' behavior and use of medical resources and provision of reassurance when appropriate.
Sherry S. Kostman, PsyD, CCM, CADC, MISA, Executive Director has an extensive background in caring for geriatric patients with psychiatric disorders including behavioral health and substance abuse. She has a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology and a is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Mental Illness/Substance Abuse Professional and Certified Case Manager.
Ethical Considerations in Discharge Planning
Recorded April 28, 2011
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Session Description: As hospital discharge planners, how do we balance patients' rights for self-determination with our own responsibility to benefit patients, prevent harm and fairly distribute care? This interactive seminar about the ethical challenges social workers and nurses face as increased pressure to shorten hospitalizations impacts quicker clinical decisions will offer an evidenced based approach to resolving conflicts between patients' rights for self-determination and healthcare professionals' responsibility to benefit patients, prevent harm and fairly distribute care.
Jason Karlawish, MD a renowned expert in the field of ethical issues in the care of persons with dementia, will discuss an evidence based approach to assessing capacity of patients in the hospital environment.
Eileen Zenker, LCSW, Director of Client Services at SeniorBridge in New York, NY and an NYU School of Medicine ethics course co-facilitator, will provide an overview of principles in medical ethics and facilitate an interactive case discussion.
Avoiding Case Manager Burnout While Improving Patient Satisfaction: A St. Barnabas Hospital Case Study on Addressing the Needs of Complex Patients
Recorded April 13, 2011
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Session Description: Studies suggest hospital discharge planners spend more than 85% of their time addressing the needs of 15% of patients. The inefficiencies in case loads create increased length of stay and reduced patient satisfaction. Patients lose continuity of care with multiple hospital transfers, and hospital case managers are overwhelmed balancing the need to prioritize scheduled discharges and to meet the needs of patients with complex cases. This session will discuss key learnings from an innovative program to improve patient care and satisfaction while reducing burnout in the discharge planning department.
Claudia Fine, MPH, LCSW, Executive Vice President for SeniorBridge, will offer an introduction about the unique needs of patients with complicated medical, functional or social situations.
Susan Sorge, RN, BSN, Director of Case Management, Saint Barnabas Health Care System, will discuss a model of case management focused on improving efficiencies and quality of care.
Addressing the "Elephant in the Room": Initiating End-of-Life Discussions to Empower Families with Choices
Recorded March 23, 2011
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Session Description: Research demonstrates that patients who engage in end-of-life discussions with their health professionals are more likely to die comfortably. Yet less than 40% of terminally ill patients discuss how they want to live at the closing of their lives. This dynamic session will explore the cultural, experiential and institutional challenges families and professionals face in providing quality care at end of life that meets the psychosocial and spiritual as well as medical needs of individuals and offer guidance for overcoming them.
Richard Levine, MD, Priority Concierge MD, will share personal perspectives from his more than 20 years providing treatment and preventive care to South Florida patients with an emphasis on establishing effective communication.
Esther Chachkes, DSW, Associate Clinical Professor of Social Work at New York University, will discuss the unique experiences of Holocaust and other survivors of extreme distress.
Rona Bartelstone, LCSW, MSW, CMC, Senior Vice President of Care Management at SeniorBridge, will offer perspectives and coping strategies for families facing dynamics ranging from sibling rivalry to abuse.
Denise DiGiovanni-Segal, RN, BSN, Veteran Service Officer at VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, will share wisdom about peace from people who were trained for war.
Transitioning Heart Patients from Hospital to Home
Recorded February 17, 2011
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Session Description: According to estimates, 54% of heart patient hospital readmissions may be preventable with adequate discharge planning, education and follow up. In honor of heart health month, SeniorBridge is pleased to present a panel of experts who will discuss evidence-based approaches to transitioning patients with cardiovascular disease from hospital to home. The session will address a structured system of patient and family education that involves a multidisciplinary team and emphasizes medication adherence, sodium and fluid restrictions, exercise therapy and recognition of signs and symptoms that indicate progression of disease.
Jill Kalman, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology and Director of the Cardiomyopathy Program at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.
Jacqueline Morrison, RN, CMC, MA, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services and Quality Management at SeniorBridge
Robert W. Hofman, SeniorBridge Exercise Specialist for the Elderly, Advanced Personal Trainer and Chi Gong Group Instructor
Laura Stadler, MS, RD, SeniorBridge nutrition specialist and co-author of "Preventive Nutrition: Public Health Implications" in The Epidemiology of Women's Health to be published this year.
Paying for Long-Term Care in an Era of Health Reform: Micro and Macro Perspectives for the Professional
Recorded January 25, 2011
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Session Description: SeniorBridge and the Jewish National Fund present a free seminar about how financial and healthcare professionals can help clients and patients plan for long-term care in light of recently passed healthcare reform legislation changing health policies and reimbursement models. This is a live event at Vi at Aventura located at 19333 West Country Club Drive in Aventura, FL 33180.
Eric C. Rackow, MD is President and CEO of SeniorBridge, a national health management organization, and Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Rackow frequently speaks at healthcare conferences on aging, complex chronic care and healthcare delivery systems, and is regularly quoted in national media on how healthcare reform affects seniors.
Ellen S. Morris, Esq. is a partner in the law firm of Elder Law Associates, PA and a leader in the field of Elder Law. Ms. Morris is the Legislative Chair of the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar and Secretary of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys Board of Directors. She is also very involved in the National Council of Jewish Women.
Maximizing Your Value - Considerations for Your Geriatric Care Management Business Exit Strategy
Recorded January 19, 2011
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View Slides by Peter Sosnow and Rona Bartelstone, LCSW, MSW, CMC
View Slides by David C. Peck, JD
Session Description: Aimed at geriatric care management business owners, this dynamic panel presentation by two recognized experts will offer strategies to build business value into the long-term.
David C. Peck, JD of GreenbergTraurig, a renowned internal law firm, will discuss the legal check-lists, strategies and advisors care management business owners should have in place and share common mistakes in the industry.
Rona Bartelstone, LCSW, MSW, CMC, Senior Vice President of Care Management at SeniorBridge, will share her personal experience of creating value in a business that became the leading geriatric care management firm in Florida including her own financial and psychosocial considerations as she grew into a national industry leader.
Peter Sosnow, Vice President of Corporate Development at SeniorBridge, will provide a brief introduction and facilitate the discussion.
LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ISSUES IN MANAGING CARE TRANSITIONS
Recorded October 21, 2010
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Session Description: Financing long-term care planning is one of the most significant preparations families and individuals face when building a foundation for security, stability, and quality of life. Our speakers will discuss resources to help seniors and their caregivers pay for long-term health care including Medicare, Long Term Care Insurance, Life Insurance, Reverse Mortgages, Congregate Care Options, and Medicaid- the payor of last resort. Attendees will gain understanding of how to access relevant resources, particularly when faced with the reality that Medicare rarely covers costs involved after a hospital or sub-acute facility stay.
Claudia Fine, LCSW, MPH, Executive Vice President and Chief Professional Officer at SeniorBridge, will facilitate the dialogue.
Peter J. Strauss, Esq., Senior Counsel, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law, New York Law School and Co-author of "The Complete Retirement Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Safeguard Your Money, Your health and Your Independence" with special expertise in the legal problems of aging and persons with disabilities.
Joseph Meyers, Community Senior Capital.
Abraham I. Gruenwald, CLU, CLTC, Principal, 65 Plus, The Health Care Safety Net with more than 30 years experience servicing the life, health and medical insurance needs of the baby-boomer and senior population.