2024 Conference Information

November 8, 2024

Bain Hall, First Methodist Church, Shreveport
500 Common St., Shreveport, LA 71101

9:00 AM – 3:30 PM  |  Doors open at 8:30 AM

For more information, contact us at (318) 656-4800 or info@alzbridge.org.

2024 Keynote Speaker

Eric Portnoff, B.A., CVT

Eric Portnoff, B.A., CVT is a highly experienced professional in the senior living industry, with a career spanning over 35 years. Eric began his career working with adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness in residential settings. After two decades in this field, Eric became a nonprofit Executive Director before transitioning to the senior living industry as an Executive Director.

Eric’s passion for dementia support led him to become a Regional Director and Vice-President of Memory Care and Resident Programs as well as a Certified Validation Teacher. One of his career highlights was teaching the first Validation Certification courses ever offered in China over a three-year period.

Currently, Eric serves as Regional Director of Wellness Programming for MBK Senior Living, where he brings his extensive experience and expertise to lead the development and implementation of innovative and engaging memory care and wellness programs for older adults.

Outside of work, Eric is an avid traveler, backpacker, and scuba diver. He also has a passion for video and photography and enjoys fine Scotch. Eric lives in Poulsbo, WA with his wife and 20-year-old son, and close to his two lovely granddaughters.

Conference Goals

The goal of the conference is to provide engagement and empowerment tools for family members, caregivers, and professionals caring for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias by using a hands-on approach so that persons with all levels of cognitive impairment can engage, interact, and communicate with another, thus mitigating the negative effects of social isolation for themselves and their families.

“Engage, Empower, Educate” Objectives

• Learn to practice validation techniques with individuals living with cognitive change to help restore their dignity

• Help families, staff, and all participants achieve empathy with aging

• Develop empathetic listening skills and responses

• Recognize the importance of quality of life in a nursing home

• Discover digital technology and how it can enhance the wellbeing of dementia individuals

• Understand the importance of independence and when to intervene

• Recognize and address delirium, depression, and dementia in elder care

• Learn how to reduce risks in a home setting

• How to better cope with death, dying, and grief

• Understand the day-to-day challenges of caring for a dementia individual

• Gain new knowledge of the latest treatment for Alzheimer’s

2024 Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Host Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Friend Sponsors