Elderspeak
You know it when you hear it. “Are we ready for our breakfast today?” “Good girl.” “Let’s put on our sweater, dear.”
It’s elderspeak — that slow, simplified communication, sometimes with a singsong cadence that sounds a lot like baby talk, that is frequently directed at older people. Learn why it is both unhelpful and hurtful and why caregivers are often unaware that they’re speaking in this way and are surprised when they see videos of themselves in caregiving situations.

Building Communication Skills to Evoke Change

Tips on how to engage with individuals struggling with changing lives.

Annual SWIM Membership:
$30.00/Membership January to December 2023. Reach out to Membership Chair, Rachel Rigo for an application, rrigo@norbellaseniorliving.com and to pay dues. 

Conversation Strategies to Shorten your Sales Cycle

Though networking with others has been touted as one of the most effective ways to expand your business, many find the exercise fruitless. Many find that after having dozens of conversations, they have no more buyers than when they started. The problem isn't networking; it is what is missing in the conversations.

In Person Network Meeting

Back by popular demand! We will have longer commercials to get to know each other better this month. Please tell us how we can help you!

No reservation is needed.

Online Marketing Tips & Strategies

Julie Hamilton is the owner of Avallo Web Development. She and her team have been creating websites for 26 years. They have won numerous awards for both design and programming projects including Senior Communities Guide. It was through this company that the team dug into online marketing strategies for older adults and families.

Julie will dispel some outdated generalizations about older adults and the internet. She will also give tips to elevate your website ranking in search engines. She will also talk about Google ad mistakes and why specific landing pages work so well and why content is king.

• swim-avallo-presentation.pdf

What if you could be injected with confidence serum so you could conquer all aspects of your work like a superhero? You would walk bravely into intimidating meetings, confidently speak with persuasive, calm authority and respond to questions with self-assurance.

For 20 years, Sara Krisher has helped people within medium size to Fortune 500 companies build confidence. She will show you what it takes to own the space at the front of the room and across the table.

Soaring in 2022

Marketing Strategies to uncover opportunities and strengthen your position in the marketplace during these times

Additional comments and insights will be shared by:

• Julie Flaig Smith, Ebenezer Corporate Director of Sales
• Sue Ferguson, Ebenezer Corporate Director of Marketing

Register for this event via this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtcO6vrj4uHtYEl46JNLXJ0qBhQccOqEJN

Your Highjacked Mindset

Find out how to get past the roadblocks of 2021 and make a fresh start in 2022 with Brad’s assistance. Brad will teach you strategies for changing your mindset to change your outcomes and reach your goals.

Brad’s goal is to help people take the steps to a clearer mind, to optimize their knowledge, skills, abilities, and decision making, and to reduce negative thoughts, feelings and emotions that keep people stuck. Your mindset works as a foundation for your experiences in this world. It’s like a well-worn path through a field. When you understand your mindset and challenge your thoughts, you can liberate yourself from being controlled by what you have been taught, experienced, or believe. Brad teaches mental fitness to achieve greater focus, health, reduced stress, quality sleep, and greater performance.

Register for this event via this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kceGqqj8oGteFzcbLDKM-YyNo7f7vulps

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join the meeting.

Breaking Barriers with Confidence

Melani Leroux will help you better understand what you need to succeed and reach your business goals through innovative marketing and business development concepts. She is a Certified Professional Coach, marketing/business development strategist and consultant. Melani’s specialty services include podcast development and implementation, social media marketing, and branding.

Come in person or register via Zoom here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlceqqrTooGN0n1PhWGiXffc4bjaJWlNwV

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join the meeting.

The Basics of Successful Fundraising Events

Alicia Baraga helps organizations grow their fundraising events through increased sponsorship, attendance and an impactful program and giving moment. She says her “superpower” is helping streamline the event planning process.

Alicia says successful fundraising events don't just happen. Just like building a house, you need to start with a solid foundation. Her presentation, The Basics of Successful Fundraising Events, will cover all the things you need to build a strong foundation for your events. Alicia helps people make small changes to event structure that help people see results quickly and grow momentum. In short, small changes create a ripple effect!

Join us in person for our May meeting!

Marketing for the 21^st Century

John Rosso is recognized globally as a business-development expert, specializing in executive-sales consulting and sales-productivity training as well as the best-selling author of two prospecting books. John is a dynamic, enthusiastic speaker who informs, entertains, and motivates presidents, CEO's, senior managers, and sales professionals.

By focusing on buyers’ and sellers’ attitudes and behaviors, not just techniques, you can achieve superior selling results.

Emotional Intelligence… What is it and How do I Get it?

Robb Breding has spent most of his life and career seeking to inspire people and organizations to be the very best they can be! He spent the first eleven years of his career receiving a world class education as an executive leader at a prominent fortune 500 retail company. Subsequently, he ventured to start his own retail company selling wireless phones and accessories. As president and CEO, he grew the business from a single store to over fifty locations, employing over 250 people across five states in just 10 years. Hit hard by the “Great Recession” of 2008, Breding fought back and successfully transitioned the business from direct distribution to a franchise-like model empowering entrepreneurs to own and operate their own wireless retail stores. After selling the wireless business in 2014, Robb’s wife, Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer battle that ensued lasted over two years and together he and Pam fought not only the cancer, but also phenomena and heart failure caused by chemotherapy. This life altering experience was a wakeup call for Breding and helped to solidify what has become his “WHY” in life. That is “To empower people to understand and fulfill their God given purpose!” Since then, Breding has founded REV Advisory Group to carry out this mission.

Breding is also an active member of his community serving on the local advisory board for Hope International; he commits his time, treasure and talent to his local church and various non-profits; and is currently the chair of his Rotary Club’s Leadership Development program. Robb and Pam have been married for over 35 years and together they have two beautiful daughters and two grandsons. The couple currently resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota metro area.

Join us for the SWIM Holiday Party

Our holiday party is a celebration for our members and anyone in the senior industry who wants to learn about SWIM and our upcoming year of meetings. There will be appetizers provided and a cash bar. Come and network, have some great food, and meet others in your industry. Bring your friends and a wrapped gift for a senior!!!

Embracing Failure - A Path to High Performance

Annual SWIM Membership:
$30.00/Membership January to December 2023. Reach out to Membership Chair, Rachel Rigo for an application, rrigo@norbellaseniorliving.com and to pay dues. 

Firearms and the Elderly

This session will review essential issues around firearm ownership for aging persons including ownership with progressive dementia, what legally can be done when someone with cognitive loss and mental health issues owns firearms, as well as what happens with firearms after death.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Meeting and Speaker

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

No reservation needed!

Generate Sales Leads from LinkedIn

When your sales aren't hitting the mark, most people over-compensate with execution and tactics, but if you want to dig a little deeper, you can probably do less and sell more.

Luke Jenson from LeadingAge Minnesota

Luke talks about Elevating your Business Relationships. 

• Making Yourself Smaller Presentation.pdf

"Who are you?  Brand.  Identity and individuality."

Anne will be speaking at a deeper level that invites individual introspection on how your profession lines up with your identity and aspirations.

Bring a friend and meet and network with SWIM members and visitors!

The Power of Vision: 3 Keys to Mastering Your Results

Do you ever feel like you don't have what it takes to experience success? Kris Langworthy believes we are all capable of far more than we realize. As a former nurse and as a mom of a child who overcame a cancerous brain tumor, Kris Langworthy believes we are all capable of far more than we realize. As a Certified Life Mastery Consultant and Dreambuilder Coach, she will be presenting the art and the science of overcoming obstacles, achieving success and living a life you love.

Networking, Coffee, and Cookies

The December SWIM Professionals Serving Seniors is on for 12/6/2023. Coffee will be served. Feel free to bring some holiday cookies or some fruit, or anything simple you might like to share. ( Optional.) December is such a busy and stressful time for everyone. Come have a cup of coffee, relax, and be prepared to share how your business can be useful to seniors during the holidays.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Attendee Commercials

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

No reservation needed!

We’re celebrating summer, and you’re invited! Join us on the patio for the afternoon - we’ll have drinks, snacks, and a great opportunity to build your professional network! Guests are free, so be sure to bring your friends! 

There will be no formal meetings in July. Meetings will resume August 2nd.

Sales-Training Principles and Habit Changing Ideas

Brent is a Partner, Team Leader, Sales Coach, Consultant and Sales Keynote Speaker with Southwestern Consulting, a division of The Southwestern Company – a company that has been a leader in sales training for over 160 years! He dedicates his time to helping business owners, leaders, and producers by getting the results not only from themselves, but from those people around them. At Southwestern, we are more than just teachers of sales expertise, we are also practitioners first, coaches second. Which means we aren’t just asking people to do it, we are actively doing it ourselves.

MIND your Diet - Nutrition for Seniors by Chefs for Seniors

Jim and Doni will be talking about how diet affects older adults. Diet can help lower risks of cognitive decline and provide a brain boost.

Jim has spent his entire career working in the food and beverage industry, often hand-in-hand with many top-rated restaurants across the country. This exposure inspired him to learn more about food and soon he was creating delicious meals of his own. Friends, family, and neighbors are always welcome at his table and nothing brings him more joy than sharing his craft with others and building those relationships over food. You can often find Jim at a local market selecting fresh, seasonal ingredients for that day’s creation.  This passion is a perfect segue into Chefs for Seniors. 

Doni, a Minneapolis native, is a registered nurse. She is a natural caregiver who has devoted her life to the health and wellness of others.  Her time spent at many highly accredited hospitals has reinforced her belief in the importance of nutrition on overall health and wellness. This commitment has brought nutrition to the forefront of Jim’s cooking as they strive to create healthy, yet delicious alternatives to traditional favorites.  No dish is complete without her seal of approval. 

Together, Jim and Doni make a wonderful team and love to share healthy and delicious food.  

LinkedIn: The Best Business Promotion You Never Have to Pay For

Internationally renowned executive branding expert Carol Kaemmerer will share why LinkedIn is such a powerful marketing tool and how you can use it effectively for your business. Carol is the author of the award-winning book LinkedIn for the Savvy Executive: Promote Your Brand with Authenticity, Tact and Power - 2nd Edition. Last year, Carol was recognized by The American Reporter as one of the top six personal branding experts.

Takeaways:

Why the quality of your personal LinkedIn profile is so important, and how to improve it

Why every business needs a company page

How to handle posting on LinkedIn

What is Supported Decision Making and Why Does it Matter?

Anita Raymond, Director of VOA MN’s Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making, will provide a brief overview of changes in MN’s guardianship law which promotes supported decision-making and other alternatives to guardianship.

In Person Network Meeting

At our typical SWIM, Professionals Serving Seniors meeting, we often only have time for very brief introductions. For this meeting, you will have the opportunity to share a bit more about yourself and your business, and there will be additional time for questions and networking.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Meeting

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

No reservation needed!

Our Wednesday afternoon SWIM, Professionals Serving Seniors meeting, we often only have time for very brief introductions. Speaker to be announced soon!

What's Your Company's Drip? Why Every Business Needs Consistent Messaging

Although he is well-known for his legacy documentary work through Inherited Stories, Dietrich Nissen is a freelance digital media consultant and communications strategist. This Emmy Award-winning storyteller has worked for the marketing and communications departments of companies that include UnitedHealth Group, Endeavor Airlines and the City of Edina. Learn about the importance and power of drip marketing, why having a variety of audience-specific content is crucial, and what the latest trends are for social videos. Check out his work at dietrichnissen.com and inheritedstories.org.

Cannabinoid Wellness

Learn about CBD, THC, and the Road to Balance with Patty Gilk, RN and founder of Jes Naturals CBD Wellness.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Meeting and Speaker

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

No reservation needed for AM SWIM!

The Art of the Condolence Letter

Feel awkward or uncertain when offering support? Laurel Riedel will explore the art of giving comfort. Take home the do’s, the don’ts and a list of the supplies to keep on hand.

Marketing Tips & Networking

This month, we will have longer commercials, and you are invited to bring your best and most successful marketing tip. Let us know what has worked for you Discussion will follow.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Longer Commercials with Your Best Marketing Tip

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Informal Networking (Optional)

No reservation needed!