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Faculty

Carol Shaw Burns

PhD, MPA, LNHA, CDP, CADDCT
Corporate Director of Resident Services
Vi Living

Carol serves as the Corporate Director of Resident Services at Vi Living, where she leads health, safety, and well-being initiatives across independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing communities nationwide. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in Human Services Administration, and is a licensed nursing home administrator, Certified Dementia Care Practitioner, and Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer. Carol also serves as a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association – Illinois Chapter.

2027 Sessions

End-of-Life Care Roundtable: Living Until the End: How Senior Living Approaches Life's Completion

Supporting residents through the end of life requires senior living organizations to balance clinical needs, personal wishes, family expectations, and regulatory responsibilities. Across independent living, assisted living, and memory care, these situations call for coordination among community teams, healthcare partners, residents, and families.

This facilitated Roundtable will bring together executive perspectives from resident services, clinical care, and dementia programming to explore how organizations approach end-of-life care with dignity and compassion. Participants will discuss navigating difficult conversations, coordinating with hospice and palliative care partners, preparing staff, and supporting residents and families through life's final transitions.

Co-Presenter

Moderator

Monday, May 24 11:45–12:30 PM
Faculty

Sara Padilla

RN
Vice President of Health Services
SRG Senior Living

Sara is an innovative and results-driven healthcare executive with over 20 years of progressive leadership in long-term care, assisted living, and memory care. Combines clinical expertise with a strong background in technology, compliance, and multi-site operations. Recognized for successful systems implementations, regulatory excellence, and building high-performing teams across diverse organizational settings.

Faculty

Carol Shaw Burns

PhD, MPA, LNHA, CDP, CADDCT
Corporate Director of Resident Services
Vi Living

Carol serves as the Corporate Director of Resident Services at Vi Living, where she leads health, safety, and well-being initiatives across independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing communities nationwide. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in Human Services Administration, and is a licensed nursing home administrator, Certified Dementia Care Practitioner, and Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer. Carol also serves as a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association – Illinois Chapter.

Faculty

Ashlea Smalley

EdD, CADDCT, CMDP, CDSGP
Vice President of Resident Experience
Grace Senior Living

Ashlea has overseen the creation and implementation of multiple life enrichment programming initiatives, obtained recognition for the Village Orientation training curriculum from the Alzheimer’s Association, and is a certified trainer for the National Council for Certified Dementia Practitioners. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Gerontology from Northern Illinois University and her Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees in Gerontology from Concordia University in River Forest, IL. She holds current certifications of Certified Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Trainer, Certified Montessori Dementia Care Practitioner, and Certified Dementia Support Group Facilitator

Faculty

Doris Fischer-Sanchez

DNP, APN-BC, CPHRM, FASHRM
Senior Vice President, Clinical Risk Marsh Senior Living & LTC Industry Practice
Marsh

Doris provides clinical risk services for Marsh’s Senior Living & LTC Industry Practice. She provides consultation to clients regarding organizational and clinical risk to promote risk management solutions and best practices. She uses her healthcare and senior living experience to facilitate practical risk management strategies, and enterprise awareness. Doris received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Rush University, is a fellow in the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management and maintains dual board certification in Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practice.
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