Guardians of Normal Life: Supporting Autonomy and Purpose in Every Moment

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. ET/9 a.m. - 10 a.m. CT

Webinar

Many of the practices we accept as normal in long term care are not regulatory requirements - they’re simply long standing institutional habits. In reality, regulations allow far more flexibility and personalization than we often assume. This session challenges the institutional mindset and re-centers what residents truly deserve: a home where daily life reflects individual preferences, natural rhythms, and meaningful choice.

Join us as we explore how to distinguish genuine regulatory obligations from routine institutional practice, and how to confidently replace outdated norms with approaches that support autonomy, dignity, and well being. We will examine practical strategies for creating environments that prioritize real life: authentic relationships, engagement with animals and children, access to nature, personal interests, and opportunities for spontaneous, self-directed living. 

Participants will learn how to become guardians of normal life, advocating for quality of life in every role and at every level of the organization. Together, we can reinforce the living in assisted living and the home in nursing home by ensuring that each resident experiences a life that is not only safe and clinically sound, but rich, purposeful, and truly their own.

This webinar is hosted by Florida Pioneer Network in conjunction with the Alabama Culture Change Coalition, L.E.A.D.E.R., and LeadingAge Southeast.

Learning Objectives
1.    Participants will be able to list practical practices that change institutional culture.
2.    Participants will be able to name regulations that support individualized person-directed living.
3.    Participants will be able to describe how to use regulations as standards of practice in order to support a shift from institutional to individualized cultures.

Presented by
Carmen Bowman, Founder | Edu-catering

Carmen Bowman is a nationally recognized culture change consultant, coach, and trainer who helps put the focus on "living" rather than "treatment" as we age. Carmen was a Colorado state surveyor for nine years, a policy analyst with CMS Central Office where she taught the national Basic Surveyor Course and was the first certified activity professional to be a surveyor also serving on the four year panel with CMS developing the new guidance to Tags 248 Activities and 249 Qualified Activity Director. As a contractor to CMS, Carmen co-developed the Artifacts of Culture Change measurement tool, authored the background papers for and facilitated both Creating Home national symposiums. She then facilitated the Task Force that developed the new Dining Practice Standards agreed upon by twelve national clinical standard setting organizations. Recently she co-authored a paper with Dr. Judah Ronch The Power of Language to Create Culture, a new book called Eliminating Alarms and Preventing Falls by Engaging the Whole Person and facilitated the first Surplus Safety Symposium. Carmen has a Master's degree in Healthcare Systems, a Bachelor's in Social Work and German, is a Certified Eden Associate and Eden Mentor, Certified Validation Worker and Group Practitioner. She co-founded the Colorado Culture Change Coalition, and with Action Pact has authored seven culture change workbooks plus hosts a monthly web culture change talk show called Conversations with Carmen.

Contact Hours
This program is approved for 1 hour of CE credit for nursing home administrators (NHA), assisted living/adult residential care administrators, nurses, and social workers. Contact hours will be posted to CEBroker within 30 days of the program date for attendees licensed under the appropriate Florida Boards. All attendees will receive a certificate reflecting hours earned for self-reporting continuing education to other Boards.

Questions
For assistance with your membership status or recovering login information, please contact us at (850) 671-3700.