Webinars & Other Trainings

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Upcoming Webinars

Webinar: Navigating VA Benefits: Simplifying Aid and Attendance for Residents and Their Families
February 17, 2026, 3 PM - 4 PM

This informative webinar is designed for assisted living staff members who want to better support veteran residents and their families in navigating the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefit. The session will provide a clear overview of the purpose of the benefit, basic eligibility and qualification requirements, and how it can help offset the cost of care.

The presentation will also explore common reasons Aid & Attendance applications are delayed or denied, offering practical insights to help staff guide families through the process more effectively and avoid frequent pitfalls. In addition, attendees will receive an overview of resources and benefits available through the Virginia Department of Veterans Services that may further support veterans and their families.

This educational session will provide up to 1.0 NAB CEU hours. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar, marked in attendance, and who complete a post-event evaluation will be eligible to receive CEUs.
 

Register for Webinar: Navigating VA Benefits: Simplifying Aid and Attendance for Residents and their Families

Webinar: Developing Emotional Intelligence: A Practical Blueprint With Ripple Effects Across Every Aspect of Life
April 14, 2026, 3 PM - 4 PM

Emotions are contagious...and affect everything. Are yours worth spreading? Discover a powerful framework to take your Emotional Intelligence to the next level. 

A practical blueprint with ripple effects across every aspect of life! Emotions affect everything--for better or worse. We know more about Emotional Intelligence (EI) than ever, yet applied EI is decreasing in our daily lives. Jonathan will discuss the demise of EI in our text-crazy click-bait headline culture and what that means to leaders, parents, teachers, coaches, and you. This program is full of incredibly memorable stories, real-life scenarios, and powerful tools to take your EI to the next level. Amygdala "hijacks" can tear apart a business or relationship in seconds. Do you have a strategy to master them? Can you teach your strategy to others? After this hilarious and engaging program, your answer will be "Yes!" 

This educational session will provide up to 1.0 NAB CEU hours. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar, marked in attendance, and who complete a post-event evaluation will be eligible to receive CEUs.
 

Register for Webinar: Developing Emotional Intelligence: A Practical Blueprint With Ripple Effects Across Every Aspect of Life

Webinar: WINGS - New Guide on Decision-Making Options Less Restrictive Than Guardianship
June 25, 2026, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Because guardianship removes fundamental rights, it is important to explore a range of less restrictive options for making health care/personal and financial decisions. These legal as well as informal support options can avoid unnecessary court orders for guardianship and maximize self-determination. The Supreme Court WINGS network (Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders), in collaboration with the Virginia Center on Aging, has developed a brief plain language guide, Less Restrictive Options in Virginia: Guardianship and Conservatorship Are Not the Only Options, at guardian.vacourts.gov, Quick Start Resources. 

The WINGS Guide on Less Restrictive Options in Virginia is approved and is available on the court's webside at guardian.vacourts.gov

This educational session will provide up to 1.0 NAB CEU hours. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar, marked in attendance, and who complete a post-event evaluation will be eligible to receive CEUs.
 

Register for Webinar: WINGS - New Guide on Decision-Making Options Less Restrictive Than Guardianship

Past Webinars

Webinar: Your Voice Matters: Championing Assisted Living at the Capitol
December 5, 2025, 1 PM - 2:30 PM
This webinar empowers assisted living professionals and advocates to better understand the regulatory and legislative processes that shape Virginia's assisted living industry. Participants will receive up-to-date insights on recent state and federal legislative actions, learn how policymaking impacts day-to-day operations, and explore upcoming opportunities to engage with lawmakers and public policy officials. Designs for providers, administrators, and anyone passionate about senior care, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make  your voice heard. Discover how effective advocacy can strengthen the assisted living community - and how you can champion meaningful change at the Capitol. 

This educational session will provide up to 1.5 NAB CEU hours. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar, marked in attendance, and who complete a post-event evaluation will be eligible to receive CEUs.

Missed the webinar? View the recorded presentation: https://tinyurl.com/YourVoiceMatters12525 
Passcode: mSb.9Rkx

(No CEUS are provided for watching the recorded webinar)

Webinar: Say What Needs to Be Said: Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations Without Making Things Worse
September 9, 2025, 3 PM - 4 PM
When workplace conversations turn difficult, most people either power through and cause damage—or avoid them and let problems fester. In senior care, that’s not an option. This session gives you practical ways to lead high-stakes conversations with residents, staff, and families—especially when cultural expectations and communication styles don’t line up. You’ll learn how to say what needs to be said without making things worse—and walk away with strategies to reduce tension, build trust, and get to clarity faster.

This educational session is approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs.

Webinar: Employer Partner Opportunities with VDSS
August 28, 2025, 11 AM - 12 PM
Assisted living communities are constantly recruiting employees, and the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is constantly in need of employer partners for their Full Employment Program and other employment services programs. The Full Employment Program (FEP) is a subsidized employment program designed to provide an opportunity for participants to increase self-sufficiency by earning a living wage, increase career-related work skills, and improve their competitiveness in the labor market.This webinar will educate assisted living providers on the benefits of becoming an employer partner with VDSS including financial stipends, training partnerships, and ongoing employee supports. 

Get registered and come prepared to ask questions and to take advantage of the benefits available in filling your employee vacancies.

This educational session is approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs.

Presenter:
Martin D. Brown
Special Advisory to the Commissioner for Workforce and Reentry, Virginia Department of Social Services

Webinar: Map It, Plan It, Stay Safe: Hurricane Preparedness for Senior Living
August 22, 2025, 10 AM - 11 AM
With a hurricane currently brewing in the Atlantic and several assisted living communities located within designated flood zones, preparation is more important than ever. This timely session is designed specifically for assisted living providers to strengthen their emergency readiness. Participants will learn how to research FEMA floodplain maps to better understand their community’s flood risk and potential impact areas. The session will also cover practical hurricane preparedness strategies tailored for the unique needs of assisted living residents. This class will enable participants to make informed decisions, protect residents, and maintain operational continuity before, during, and after a hurricane.

Key Takeaways:

• How to locate and interpret your facility’s FEMA floodplain map designation.
• Assessing flood risk and identifying vulnerable areas within your property.
• Hurricane readiness strategies specific to assisted living environments.

This educational session is approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs.

Presenter:
Lauren Penn
Managing Director, Revenue and Strategic Partnerships, Paul Davis Restoration

Webinar: Best Practices for Residential Voting
July 24, 2025, 11 AM - 12 PM
How can residential directors best support their resident’s right to vote while also safeguarding those residents designated non compos mentis? This presentation will assist attendees in identifying possible facility vulnerabilities and provide recommendations for policy and procedure development to not only protect the residents, but also the staff and the facility.

Practical resources, including the Virginia Voting Assistance Legal Guide along with recommended best practices will be reviewed. Attendees will be armed with useful resources to take back to their communities.

This educational session has been approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs. 

Informational Webinar: VALA AI Mascot for Regulatory Support
June 17, 2025, 2 PM - 3 PM
At VALA, we are committed to supporting assisted living professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to provide exceptional care. That’s where Reggie, VALA’s WiseOx AI-powered mascot, comes in - your go-to expert for navigating Virginia’s assisted living regulations with ease and confidence. "Reggie" is VALA's regulatory red fox. This informational webinar will introduce you to Reggie and share how best to use his services. 

Empowering Residents and Employees to Defend Themselves Against Identity Theft
June 18, 2025, 11 AM - 12 PM
In the fight against identity theft, the IRS has many informative resources available to help taxpayers defend themselves against scammers. Join VALA and the IRS in this interactive webinar to discuss the different types of IRS impersonation scams and the steps you can take to avoid becoming victims of identity theft. Topics include how to report identity theft, obtaining an identity protection pin (IP PIN), and IRS resources available online.

This educational session has been approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs.

Presenter:
Anika Pompey, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, IRS

Missed the webinar? View the recorded presentation https://tinyurl.com/IdentityTheft2025-06
Passcode: 4S1LO=rG {No CEUS are provided for watching the recorded webinar}

Update on Outcomes of 2025 Virginia General Assembly
April 3, 2025, 11 AM - 12 PM
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly ended this year's session on February 22, with final bills going to the governor's desk to be acted upon by the end of March. Join VALA's legislative and regulations team to review and discuss the outcomes of legislation impacting the assisted living industry in Virginia, such as VALA's advocacy to expand and increase the Auxiliary Grant (AG) for low-income seniors and adults with disabilities.

This educational session has been approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs.

Presenters:
Judy Hackler, Executive Director, Virginia Assisted Living Association
Julia Hammond, Senior Principal, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies
Kyler Hedrick, Government Relations Associate, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies

Navigating Guardianship in Assisted Living Communities
April 23, 2025, 11 AM - 12 PM
Many seniors improve their quality of life after moving into assisted living communities, getting the support they need to live full and engaged lives.  However, there are occasions when residents develop issues that surpass the capacity of the assisted living community, such as residents becoming unable to make decisions for themselves due to the onset of dementia or their financial resources are depleted.  In scenarios such as these, guardianship may serve as a feasible option to explore to ensure the resident in question continues to receive the best care available.

Join VALA for a panel discussion on what guardianship is and is not, as this webinar will cover all aspects of guardianship, from the differences between private and public guardianship to a step-by-step guide on how to complete a public guardianship referral.

This educational session has been approved by NAB for 1 CEU. Only individuals pre-registered for the webinar and marked in attendance will be eligible to receive CEUs. 

Panelists:
Sheryl Herndon, Esq., Elder Law Attorney, Herndon Law
Laurie Hunter, Long-Term Care Manager, The SPAN Center
Laura Koch, Public Guardian and Conservator Program, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)