VCPEA 2026 Conference Agenda At-A Glance

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

12:00 - 3:00 PM: Registration & Check Out Exhibits! 

1:00 - 1:30 PM: Orientation for Scholarship Recipients- Mariner Room

Exhibits (Open throughout Conference) - Rappahannock Room

1:45 - 2:15 PM: Welcome Address - Atlantic Ballroom

2:30 - 3:30 PM: Breakout Sessions (Choose One)  

Workshop A: How to Help and Protect a Client with Hoarding Behavior- Part I - presented by Maria Spetalnik

Workshop B: “911?  It’s an Emergency!”: The Intersection of Powers of Attorney/Guardianships and Emergency Response - Presented by Alison Martin, J.D

Workshop C: When Helping Hurts: Balancing Community, Compassion, & Self- Care - presented by Neisha C. Himes

3:45 - 4:45 PM: Breakout Sessions (Choose One) 

Workshop D: How to Help and Protect a Client with Hoarding Behavior- Part II- presented by Maria Spetalnik

Workshop E: Stalking in Later Life- presented by Dana Fleitman

Workshop F: LTC Ombudsman & Resident Rights in Long-Term Care Facilities - presented by Katie Serola 

Workshop G: When Home Is No Longer Safe: Navigating the Caregiving Journey from Community to Assisted Living - presented by Brenda L. Norman and A. Rena Williams

5:30 PM: Yoga on the Beach (bring your own mat)

6:30 PM: Networking and Storytelling Session

Thursday, May 7, 2026

7:30 - 9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast

8:00 - 9 AM: Registration 

9:00 - 9:30 AM: Welcome Address - Atlantic Ballroom

9:30 - 11:15 AM: Opening Session - Atlantic Ballroom

“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.

11:45 - 1:00 PM: Luncheon, featuring Jeff Byrd - Atlantic Ballroom

“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. 

1:15 - 2:15 PM: Breakout Sessions (Choose One) 

Workshop H: Less Restrictive Decision-Making Options in Virginia: Guardianship and Conservatorship Are Not the Only Option - presented by Erica Wood, Sally Hurme and Aisling Cardy

Workshop I: NH FAST: Forward into Fraud Fighting - presented by Christa G. Clapp

Workshop J: Equity in Elderhood: An Intersectional Lens on Social Drivers of Health’s Impact on Aging - presented by Glynis Boyd Hughes 

2:30 - 3:30 PM: Breakout Sessions (Choose One) 

Workshop K: Overlooked and Undertreated: Understanding Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults - presented by Donna Creager

Workshop L: Hidden Intersections: Dementia, Elder Abuse, and the Power of Community Awareness - presented by Lisa Brownlee Johnson and Dr. Stephen B Towns Sr

Workshop M: Understanding Ageism: How to Respond Personally, Professionally, and Across Systems - presented by Donya Currie

3:45 - 4:45 PM- Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

Workshop N: 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

Workshop O: More Than Just A Slip or Trip: Fall Prevention to Promote Safety, Independence, and Confidence in Aging - presented by Amanda Rudderman

Workshop P: Guardianship in Virginia: Progress, Practice, and Possibilities - presented by Ellie Rest

5:15 PM: Networking Reception - Atlantic Ballroom

Friday, May 8, 2026

7:30 - 9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast 

9:30- 10:30 AM: Breakout Sessions (Choose One) 

Workshop Q: Surviving Elder Financial Abuse - Helping Virginians Find Hope Again - presented by John Schwartz

Workshop R: Understanding Dementia and the Increased Risk for Abuse - presented by Sydney Palinkas

Workshop S: Elder Abuse - The Medical Perspective - presented by Melissa Harper

11:00 – 12:30 PM Closing Session- Atlantic Ballroom

“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.

12:30 – 1:00 PM Final Thoughts and Prize Drawings