2026 Conference Presentations and Handouts

*Please note not all presentations will be available. Some presenters did not authorize VCPEA to share their materials.

How to Help and Protect a Client with Hoarding Behavior- Part I and 2 - Presented by Maria Spetalnik, Maria Spetalnik LLC, You’ve heard of Hoarding, and may have a client who does it. This session will talk about what it’s really like for the person who is hoarding and for their family and community using plain language and lots of stories. We’ll discuss tips to help the person control the hoard.

“911? It’s an Emergency!”: The Intersection of Powers of Attorney/Guardianships and Emergency Response, Presented by Alison Martin, J.D, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, In this high-energy, interactive presentation, Henrico Fire Department CARE Team Captain Michele Greep, CARE Team Coordinator Marshall Despain, and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alison Martin will discuss an issue of increasing concern in emergency intervention: the meaning and application of Power of Attorney and Guardianship documents. Participants will leave this session with a clear understanding of the powers conveyed (and not conveyed!) by these important decision-making documents.

When Helping Hurts: Balancing Community, Compassion, & Self- Care - Presented by Neisha C. Himes, Hand In Hand, Riverside’s Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program, Supporting others through trauma and crisis is meaningful — and it can also take a quiet toll. This session explores compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary trauma, offering practical, trauma-informed strategies to protect your well-being, sustain your purpose, and continue serving others with clarity, resilience, and compassion.

Stalking in Later Life - Presented by Dana Fleitman, Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center, This session examines stalking in the context of elder abuse – its prevalence, dynamics, implications, and resources available for survivors. As a result of this session, attendees will be better able to recognize stalking behavior, understand how stalking impacts older adults, and identify resources to improve their response to stalking.

LTC Ombudsman & Resident Rights in Long-Term Care Facilities - Presented by Katie Serola, The Span Center, and Laurie Hunter, The Span Center, The LTC Ombudsman is a resident directed program for those individuals who are in Nursing homes, Assisted Livings, Adult Day Cares, and those who receive Home Health Services. We help to protect their Resident Rights by State Law and Federal Law.

When Home Is No Longer Safe: Navigating the Caregiving Journey from Community to Assisted Living - Presented by Brenda L. Norman, Warren County Department of Social Services, and A. Rena Williams, Commonwealth Senior Living – Front Royal, Caregiving often begins with love and ends with difficult choices. This session explores the challenges families face when a loved one can no longer remain safely at home, emphasizing respectful communication, autonomy, and emotional support through transition. Participants will gain strategies to guide families and elders through grief, loss, and adjustment.

“The Weight We Carry, The Work We Love: Building Resilience in Protective Services” -Presented by Donna Creager, Institute on Protective Services | Temple University Harrisburg, As we celebrate older adults and those who dedicate their lives to protecting and supporting them, it’s important to also honor the well-being of the helpers themselves. Protective service work is both rewarding and demanding. Each day, we carry the weight of others’ stories while striving to make a difference. Over time, that load can grow heavy and take a toll on our well-being and compassion. This keynote explores how to recognize and manage the weight of this work, offering practical strategies to build resilience, restore balance, and sustain the compassion that drives the work you do every day.

“Celebrating Elders and Those Who Serve Them” - Presented by Jeff Byrd, Join Jeff Byrd in learning to suspend judgment of ourselves, others, and circumstances, while enhancing empathy, understanding and compassion toward elders and enhancing our values profile toward all.

Guardianship in Virginia: Progress, Practice, and Possibilities - Presented by Ellie Rest, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Virginia’s guardianship system has experienced significant transformation in recent years, driven by legislative reforms, increased oversight, and a growing emphasis on person-centered care. This session offers attendees a comprehensive overview of the guardianship system in Virginia by exploring its evolution, current practices, and future direction.

NH FAST: Forward into Fraud Fighting - Presented by Christa G. Clapp, New Hampshire Department of Justice, This workshop discusses the history of the NH Financial Abuse Specialty Team (FAST), and the ongoing accomplishments of this multi-disciplinary team. Practical examples are provided to encourage the audience to consider how a FAST can positively affect victims of older adult maltreatment.

Equity in Elderhood: An Intersectional Lens on Social Drivers of Health’s Impact on Aging - Presented by Glynis Boyd Hughes, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Gerontology, Through the use of an intersectional lens when reviewing and evaluating the impact of social drivers of health on aging and disability, professionals can expand and deepen their scope of practice through acquisition of knowledge and tools that are grounded in person-centric and holistic care.

Overlooked and Undertreated: Understanding Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults - Presented by Donna Creager, Temple University Institute on Protective Services, This training explores substance misuse and addiction among older adults, a growing yet often overlooked issue. Participants will learn to identify signs, understand co-occurring disorders, address stigma and bias, and explore age-appropriate resources to support prevention, intervention, and recovery for this vulnerable and rapidly expanding population.

Hidden Intersections: Dementia, Elder Abuse, and the Power of Community Awareness - Presented by Lisa Brownlee Johnson, Wisdom Watch Alliance, and Dr. Stephen B Towns Sr., Wisdom Watch Alliance, This session explores the intersection of dementia and elder abuse through the work of Wisdom Watch Alliance, a Richmond-based initiative promoting early dementia screening, psychological safety, and community education. Participants will learn strategies to detect, prevent, and address abuse risks in older adults living with cognitive decline.

Understanding Ageism: How to Respond Personally, Professionally, and Across Systems - Presented by Donya Currie, National Council on Aging (NCOA), Ageism—discrimination based on a person’s age—is pervasive. But it is a problem that can be solved, if you have the right tools. Learn how to spot the four types of ageism (interpersonal, institutional, systemic, and self-directed) and be empowered to take action.

Simple as Soup: Transforming the Response to Older Adult Mistreatment: How the Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Team Can Improve Outcomes for Our Most Vulnerable Adults - Presented by Christa G. Clapp, New Hampshire Department of Justice, This workshop discusses the history of the NH Financial Abuse Specialty Team (FAST), and the ongoing accomplishments of this multi-disciplinary team. Practical examples are provided to encourage the audience to consider how a FAST can positively affect victims of older adult maltreatment.

More Than Just A Slip or Trip: Fall Prevention to Promote Safety, Independence, and Confidence in Aging - Presented by Amanda Rudderman, VCU Medical Center, Trauma Service, Injury and Violence Prevention, Ground-level falls are the leading cause of injury for adults over 65 and a significant threat to a person’s safety, independence, and confidence in aging. Awareness and practical solutions can mitigate risk, promote new skills, and improve the ability of older adults to age in place in the community.

Less Restrictive Decision-Making Options in Virginia: Guardianship and Conservatorship Are Not the Only Option- Presented by Erica Wood, WINGS (Supreme Court’s Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders), Sally Hurme, WINGS, and Aisling Cardy, Virginia Center on Aging & VCU Gerontology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Because guardianship removes fundamental rights, reducing choice and self-determination, this session for older adults, adults with disabilities, family members, caregivers and advocates, will explore a range of less restrictive options for making health care/personal as well as financial decisions, avoiding unnecessary or overbroad court orders, and maximizing autonomy.

Additional Resource from WINGS

Surviving Elder Financial Abuse - Helping Virginians Find Hope Again - Presented by John Schwartz, Center For Combating Elder Financial Abuse, and Vanessa Engelhardt & Ronald Kesner, Our joint presentation uses law-enforcement footage and case-study videos to reveal the profound financial and emotional damage caused by elder financial abuse, including the risk of suicidal thoughts. We also provide practical strategies to help victims begin healing after losing a significant amount of their life savings.

Understanding Dementia and the Increased Risk for Abuse - Presented by Sydney Palinkas, RAFT Dementia Support Program, Individuals living with dementia are particularly susceptible to elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. This abuse often goes undetected due to challenges with memory, communication, and judgement. Along with highlighting dementia as a significant risk factor for elder abuse, this session will provide attendees with an understanding of dementia and how it affects judgement, language, and memory. Participants will gain strategies for successfully communicating with individuals living with dementia in interviews. Finally, this session will discuss the RAFT Program, a regional project serving older adults living with dementia and their caregivers.

Planning for Your Safety on Someone Else’s-Sometimes Worst Day of Their Life! - Presented by Melissa Harper, Coordinator, Ultra Health PEDS Forensic Nursing; Forensic Nurse, SAFE Center of SWVA, APS social workers often meet clients/families who are in crisis or what might feel like the client’s “worst day” of their life. This session will discuss client and setting-related factors that increase the risk of violence on APS workers, as well as responsibilities of leaders in keeping their staff safe, warning signs of potential violence, tips for maintaining personal safety in the field, de-escalation of tense situations and steps for care after a crisis occurs. The presentation will include real case scenarios. After attending the presentation, the participant will identify factors that may increase the risk of violence, identify warning signs of potential violence, discuss leader responsibilities in keeping employees safe, consider tips for de-escalation and identify steps for care after a crisis. The presentation is meant to provide guidance in planning for safety. There is no single plan that can eliminate risk, nor is there a single “right” way to de-escalate a crisis.

“The Heart of Resilience — Celebrating Those Who Care for Others” - presented by Cathy Richards, This year marks 30 years of commitment, compassion, and courage in the prevention of elder abuse — and it’s time to celebrate you. In this inspiring and heartfelt keynote, Cathy Richards shines a light on “the helpers,” honoring those who dedicate their lives to serving others while often putting themselves last. Through powerful stories, research, and relatable humor, Cathy shares a message of both appreciation and action: self-care is not selfish — it’s essential. You’ll discover simple, evidence-based strategies to manage stress, rebuild energy, and reconnect with the joy and meaning in your work. This is your moment to pause, breathe, and remember that the heart of resilience starts with you.