Trauma-Informed Care and Its Impact on Older Adults, the Long-Term Care Workforce, and Leaders in Senior Living

August 8, 2025: 11:00 - 12:00 pm CT (10-11 am MT)
August 15, 2025: 11:00 - 12:00 pm CT (10-11 am MT)
August 22, 2025: 11:00 - 12:00 pm CT (10-11 am MT)

Introduction: This 3-part workshop explores the critical role of trauma-informed care (TIC) in senior living environments. Trauma can significantly impact older adults, influencing their physical health, emotional well-being, and behaviors. At the same time, the long-term care workforce often faces secondary trauma and burnout, while leaders must foster a supportive, healing-centered culture. This virtual workshop will equip participants with practical strategies to recognize trauma, respond with empathy, and build resilience at every level of care.

• Session 1, August 8, 2025, Trauma-Informed Care for Older Adults: This session addresses the profound ways trauma can shape the lives of older adults, influencing their physical health, emotional resilience, and daily behaviors. Participants will learn how to recognize the often-subtle signs of trauma in seniors and respond with sensitivity and compassion. By understanding trauma's long-term effects, caregivers and team members will be better equipped to create environments that foster dignity, trust, and emotional safety for aging residents, ultimately enhancing their overall quality of life.
• Session 2, August 15, 2025, Trauma-Informed Care for the Long-Term Care Workforce: In caring for others, long-term care professionals are routinely exposed to high levels of emotional stress and secondary trauma, leading to compassion fatigue and burnout. This workshop provides the workforce with tools to recognize the impact of trauma on themselves and their colleagues. Through practical strategies for self-care, peer support, and emotional regulation, participants will build resilience and foster a culture of empathy and well-being within their teams, ensuring both caregivers and residents are supported holistically.
• Session 3, August 22, 2025, Trauma-Informed Leadership in Long-Term Care: Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping trauma-informed environments. This workshop empowers long-term care leaders to embed the principles of psychological safety, trust, and empowerment into organizational culture. Participants will explore strategies to support both residents and staff, implement trauma-informed policies, and lead with empathy. By modeling trauma-informed practices at the leadership level, organizations can cultivate healing-centered communities that prioritize the emotional and psychological health of everyone they serve.

Faculty: Jean Hartnett, Founder and CEO of Radical Sabbatical Jean Hartnett is a visionary health care leader with over 30 years of executive experience serving the older adult population. Ms. Hartnett is a proven collaborator known for the innate ability to inspire new thinking in others while repositioning organizational strategy to achieve desired results. Acknowledged by her peers for applying best practice approaches and significantly improving seniors’ quality of care, Ms. Hartnett brings practical, consultative guidance to healthcare, community, and business leaders from the unique perspective of the frontline employee. She has worked as a healthcare executive, college professor, consultant, and strategic advisor for large and small health systems across the United States.

Ms. Hartnett is a dedicated expert in trauma-informed care and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and she founded Radical Sabbatical to help others turn past adversity into self-advocacy. With a deep understanding of the profound effects trauma can have on development and well-being, Jean brings a compassionate, evidence-based approach to support individuals and communities on their healing journey. Recognizing that every individual's experience with trauma is unique, Jean integrates both the science of ACEs and the art of trauma-informed care to create environments of understanding, resilience, and empowerment. With a commitment to illuminating the shadows cast by trauma and fostering a culture of holistic healing, Jean's expertise not only encompasses the technical knowledge but also the heartfelt understanding that true recovery requires.

Ms. Hartnett is a dynamic communicator with a captivating style of relating real world senior care experiences to her audiences. Her natural curiosity and belief in “people power” has afforded her a rich and diverse career path in managing and leading complex health care organizations, leading nation-wide consulting engagements and bringing the board room into the classroom. She willingly shares her knowledge in a relatable and engaging way that promotes mindful conversation amongst individuals, teams, board members, students and community stakeholders.

Ms. Hartnett earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from The University of Nebraska Omaha and a master’s in health services administration with Long Term Care Specialty from The George Washington University. Ms. Hartnett is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Certified Yoga instructor and a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Cost:
LeadingAge Nebraska members: $220
Non-members: $350

Audience: Post-acute healthcare professionals and staff, including but not limited to assisted living, skilled nursing, hospice/palliative care, and home health agencies. Interested individuals would include administrators, department leaders and directors, nurses, social services, human resources, and more. 

Program notes: All sessions will take place at 11 am CT (10 am MT) via Zoom. The connection links will be sent several days prior to the event. The sessions will be recorded and made available only to those registered, if unable to attend the live event(s). 

REGISTER

Continuing Education: 3 hours of continuing education from Nebraska DHHS Regulation and Licensure, Board of NHA has been approved for this on-line event. Appropriate records will be maintained for other disciplines to receive credit from their credentialing organizations. Nursing hours will not be available for this event. Attendance will be taken in the Zoom meetings.